Abstract:
A barrier movement operator with improved mounting and power distribution capabilities is disclosed. The disclosed system includes an elongate member mounted from an overhead structure in a substantially horizontal manner. A head end of a barrier movement operator may be supported by the elongate member and the elongate member may be used to mount accessory devices such as lights and extension cords, and to provide mains voltage to the mounted accessories.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention relates to barrier movement operators and particularly to apparatus for mounting barrier movement operators and connecting such operators to accessories.  
         [0002]     Barrier movement operators generally comprise power and control systems for responding to operator inputs and sensed conditions to move a barrier between open and closed positions with respect to an opening. The barrier may be a door, a gate, a window, a window shade/protector or similar apparatus. Garage door operators are a common form of barrier movement operator. One type of garage door operator comprises a head end with control circuitry and a motor which extends and retracts a trolley connected to the door. The trolley moves along a rail connected between the head end and a support wall of a garage at a point above the garage opening. Such a trolley and rail type of garage door operator is generally supported from an overhead structure such as the ceiling joists of a garage. Support is often achieved by vertical metal support members from the housing of the head end to the ceiling joists which may result in a less than stylish connection. Further, it may be desirable to provide ancillary equipment or accessories to improve the functionality of the garage in which the garage door operator is mounted. For example, it may be desirable to place additional lighting in the garage, which in some instances, may be controlled by the controller of the head end. Also, it may be desirable in the garage to provide a readily available extension cord and/or a mechanic&#39;s light and the garage door operator itself may gain advantage to having an attached security camera, monitor, motion sensor and other sensing equipment. At present, the inclusion of such additional equipment results in a confused mix of non-similar items affixed throughout the garage. The present system envisions an improved system for supporting a barrier movement operator and providing ancillary equipment. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING  
       [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mounted prior art barrier movement operator;  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an improved barrier movement operator mounting;  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  is a front plan view of the mounting of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0006]      FIG. 4  is an end view of an elongate member and vertical support used in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0007]      FIG. 5  is an electrical block diagram illustrating power distribution; and  
         [0008]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the barrier movement operator.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the inside of a secure area such as a garage, having a known barrier movement operator. The area has a ceiling  16  and a front wall  14  with a doorway (not shown) therethrough which is opened and closed by a paneled garage door  24 . The position of the door  24  is controlled by a barrier movement operator head end  12  which moves a trolley  20  out and back along a rail  18 . The trolley  20  is connected to door  24  by a trolley/door arm  22 . The door  24  includes rollers at its edges which engage doorguides  26  and  28  and as the trolley  20  is drawn toward the head end  12  the door  24  is raised in the doorguides to a substantially horizontal position. The movement of the door may be controlled by user interaction with a wall control unit  31  which signals the head end of the user&#39;s requests. The head end  12 , which includes an electric motor, is powered from a mains voltage outlet  15  and is supported from the joists of the ceiling by support members  13 . Other sensors and signaling devices may be used to control barrier movement, but are not described because they are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an upward perspective view of a combined barrier movement operator support and power busing system. The trolley of the  FIG. 2  arrangement may be connected to a trolley/door arm  22  as shown in  FIG. 1  to raise and lower a door or other barrier.  FIG. 3  is a view of the same structure as  FIG. 2 , but the view is from the front of the garage, along the trolley rail  18 . The structure of  FIG. 2  includes an elongate member  33  which is supported by a plurality of vertical members  35  from an over head structure. The over head structure may be ceiling joists or another support member secured to the overhead structure of the garage. Elongate member  33 , which is shown in cross section in  FIG. 4 , comprises an open trough  34  which may be fabricating by roll forming  16  gauge sheet steel. The open trough  34  runs the length of the elongate member and may be used to provide power to accessories attached to the elongate member as discussed below.  
         [0011]     Vertical members  35  may comprise hollow tubes having a shoulder portion  37  at a bottom thereof. Shoulder portion is affixed to the hollow tube vertical member  35  and includes female threads at the open end thereof. The elongate member  33  includes a plurality of mounting holes and the vertical members  35  are connected to the elongate member  33  by bolts  39  screwed into the female inner threads of shoulders  37  through the holes. The open ends of elongate member  33  may be closed by end caps  38 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the barrier movement operator  12  portion of the elongate member  33  and portion of the trolley rail  18 . The barrier movement operator  12  is secured to the elongate member  33  by means of a plurality of bolts  41  which extend through the elongate member  33  into threaded holes in the barrier movement operator. Similarly, the trolley rail  18  is secured to the top of barrier movement operator  12  by means of a pair of bolts  43  through the rail and into barrier movement operator, Also shown in  FIG. 6  is a drive sprocket  45  which is rotated by a motor (not shown) to move a chain  47  which is attached to trolley  20 . Mains voltage may be provided to the barrier movement operator by a multi conductor power wire  49  which passed through one of the hollow vertical supports  35  and into the hollow trough  34  of elongate member  33 . Power wire  49  runs along the interior  34  of elongate member  33  and is passed to the barrier movement operator  12  via an opening  51  in the elongate member.  
         [0013]     The elongate member  33  also includes a number of points at which accessories can be attached to provide additional functionality. As shown in  FIG. 3 , light fixtures  53  and  54  are attached to a portion of the elongate member  33  to the left of the barrier movement operator  12  and light fixtures  55  and  56  are attached to the right. Further, a retractable cord, mechanic&#39;s light  58  is attached to the elongate member as is a retractable hose reel  59  for supplying compressed air from a compressor  52 . In other embodiments, other accessories such as a battery charger, security camera, CO monitor, motion detector etc., may be attached to the elongate member  33 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an electrical block diagram illustrating the connection and distribution of electrical power using the arrangement of  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 5 a  portion of the elongate member  33  is shown to represent it&#39;s power distribution or power bus function and barrier movement operator  12  is shown in block diagram form. Barrier movement operator  12  comprises power distribution apparatus  71 , a controller  73 , barrier movement apparatus  75  and a light assembly  77 . Barrier movement apparatus  75  may include a motor and sensors (not shown) which cooperate with control unit  73  to open and close a barrier. Power distribution unit  71  is equipped to receive mains voltage and to distribute mains voltage, or another created voltage, under the control of controller  73 . The light  77  is a common part of barrier movement operators and is used to provide one source of illumination under the control of controller  73 .  
         [0015]     Power wire  49  is connectable to a source of mains voltage and connects that voltage to power distribution unit  71 . Power distribution unit  71  distributes power within barrier movement operator  12  as is needed to provide barrier movement. Controller  73  is also responsible for controlling the application of mains voltage and other electrical power derived therefrom to accessories connected to barrier movement operator  12 .  
         [0016]     The following are examples of power distribution via elongate member  33 . The mains power on power conductor  49  may be distributed directly to attached accessories on elongate member  33  by connection to the power conductor. For example, one accessory may be a “night light” which is continuously powered, but which senses light levels and turns on the “night light” when light levels drop below a predetermined level. Further, the mechanics&#39; light and cord reel  58  and the compressor  52  may be permanently supplied with mains power by connection to power conductor  49 . A battery charger  61  may also be permanently connected to mains power. AC mains power may be selectively provided to accessories by the power distribution unit  71  under the control of controller  73 . For example, when a left hand garage door is being opened lights  54  and  53  may receive mains power from power distribution  71  via conductor  77 . Similarly, lights  55  and  56  may receive mains power from power distribution unit  71  via conductor  79  when a right hand garage door is being opened. Further, laser positioning devices  57  may receive power via conductor  81  or  82  to create a light spot only briefly when a vehicle is entering one side or the other of the garage. The power sent to a laser light  57  may be AC mains or DC created by power distribution  71  under control of controller  73 . In addition, conductors  91  may be employed by power distribution  71  to distribute low voltage power along elongate member  33 .  
         [0017]     In the preceding embodiments, elongate member is shown as being open at the top. The elongate member may be closed on its top to provide protection against improper contact with household voltage. The barrier movement operator is shown in the preceding, attached to the underside of the elongate member. In other embodiments, the barrier movement operator may be attached to the top of the elongate member and rest thereon. Mains power was supplied to the apparatus by a power cord  49  passing through a hollow vertical support  35 . In other embodiments, the power cord may be connected to mains power without passing through a vertical support and such power may be supplied directly to barrier movement operator  12  via a power cord as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]     While there has been illustrated and described particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications which fall within the true scope of the present invention.