Patent Publication Number: US-2022213731-A1

Title: Extrusion for multiple elements

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 62/943,422, filed on Dec. 4, 2019, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a motorized door system, and more particularly, to a safety edge bracket configured for fitment on a safety edge of the motorized door system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Motorized doors have many industrial and commercial uses. However, care must be taken when operating a motorized door. When a motorized door encounters a significant obstruction during closing, for instance, it may be necessary to immediately reverse the motor direction or halt the operation of the door in some other manner. 
     The prior art is replete with safety devices for motorized door systems, such as various types of safety edges. When a door is equipped with a safety edge, a signal is typically sent to halt or reverse the motor when the safety edge encounters an obstruction. In other cases, a signal given out by the safety edge may be interrupted, and the absence of the signal then triggers the control system to take appropriate action. 
     In the prior art motorized door  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , it is difficult to install doors equipped with safety edges at locations where the ground surface is not even. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , when the door  10  is closed, a gap  12  i s formed between the door  10  and the ground  14 . Over time, a safety edge  16  can become damaged due to excessive force being applied to the portion of the door  10  that touches the ground. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic front view of a conventional motorized door system. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a safety edge bracket for protecting a safety edge installed on a motorized door, according to the first embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  shows a front view of the safety edge bracket, according to the first embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a safety edge bracket for protecting a safety edge installed on a motorized door, according to the second embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  shows a front view of the safety edge bracket, according to the second embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a safety edge bracket for protecting a safety edge installed on a motorized door, according to the third embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  shows a front view of the safety edge bracket, according to the third embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Example embodiments of the disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. The concepts discussed herein may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope to those of ordinary skill in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements but not necessarily the same or identical elements throughout. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of a safety edge bracket  100  (hereinafter also referred to as bracket  100 ) for protecting a safety edge  102  installed on a motorized door, according to the first embodiment of the disclosure is illustrated. The bracket  100  comprises a first slot  104  defined by a first channel  106 . In the first embodiment, the first channel  106  is a U-shaped channel that defines the first slot  104  for receiving the bottom edge of a motorized door therewithin. More specifically, the first slot  104  may be configured so as hold onto the motorized door in a tight fitment, in accordance with one embodiment. Additionally, an adhesive, nails, screws, etc. may be used. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a front view of the safety edge bracket  100 , according to the first embodiment of the disclosure. The bracket  100  comprises a pair of extended channels  108  extending outwardly from both sides at a bottom end of first channel  106 . Each of the pair of extended channels  108  define a slot  110 . The slot  110  is configured to receive therein operative ends of a weather strip  112 . In one embodiment, the weather strip  112  is a U-shaped strip having T-shaped ends attached to the bracket  100  by insertion of the T-shaped ends through the slots  110 . As the weather strip  112  is attached to the bracket  100 , a gap  114  is formed between the bottom surface of the bracket  100  and the inner surface of the weather strip  112 . The weather strip  112  includes channels  112 A which the operative ends of the weather strip  112 , wherein the channels  112 A have size and configuration complementary of that of the slots  110 . 
     The bracket  100  further comprises first pair of slots  116  configured at an operative bottom surface of the first channel  106 . The first pair of slots  116  facilitate the fitment of the safety edge  102  therein. More specifically, after assembly, the safety edge is accommodate within the gap  114  formed between the weather strip  112  and the bracket  100 . In one embodiment, the gap  114  can be air gap. In another embodiment, the gap  114  may be filled with a cushioning material, e.g., Styrofoam. 
     As mentioned previously in the present specification, deployment of motorized doors at locations having an uneven ground surface causes application of excessive forces at some locations on the safety edge fitted on the motorized door. This compromises the operational life of the safety edge. An advantageous aspect of the using the bracket  100  on a motorized door  116  is that it facilitates the fitment of the weather strip  112  along with the safety edge  102 . Therefore, any stresses or force acting on the motorized door  116  due to the unevenness of the ground surface are received by the weather strip  112  instead of the safety edge  102 , as was the case with the conventional motorized door systems. The gap  114  prevents any undesired forces reaching the safety edge  102 , thereby preserving the structural integrity of the safety edge  102 . The weather strip  112 , in accordance with one embodiment, may be made of a plastic material. Also, the modular fitment of the weather strip  112  to the bracket  100  facilitate an easy replacement thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of a safety edge bracket  200  for protecting a safety edge  102  installed on a motorized door  116 , according to the second embodiment of the disclosure is illustrated. The construction of the safety edge bracket  200  is similar to that of the safety edge bracket  100 , with the exception of the configuration of the first channel  106 . Therefore, the entire construction of the safety edge bracket  200  is not repeated herein for the sake of brevity of the present disclosure. Also, like elements of the safety edge brackets  100 ,  200  are denoted via like numerals for the sake of simplicity. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , As seen in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , a first channel  206  of the safety edge bracket  200  has an L-shaped configuration. The first channel  206  includes a wall  206 A, wherein the wall  206 A of the bracket  200  may be configured to be received within a complementary slot on the motorized door, thereby securing the safety edge  102  as well as the weather strip  112  to the motorized door. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a perspective view of a safety edge bracket  300  for protecting a safety edge  102  installed on a motorized door  116 , according to the third embodiment of the disclosure is illustrated. The construction of the safety edge bracket  300  is similar to that of the safety edge bracket  100 , with the exception of the configuration of the first channel  106 . Therefore, the entire construction of the safety edge bracket  300  is not repeated herein for the sake of brevity of the present disclosure. Also, like elements of the safety edge brackets  100 ,  300  are denoted via like numerals for the sake of simplicity. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a front view of the safety edge bracket  300 , according to the third embodiment of the disclosure is illustrated. As seen in FIG. 
       6  and  FIG. 7 , a first channel  306  of the safety edge bracket  300  has a T-shaped configuration. The first channel  306  includes a wall, wherein the wall of the bracket  300  may be configured to be received within a complementary slot on the motorized door, thereby securing the safety edge  102  as well as the weather strip  112  to the motorized door. 
     Although the features, functions, components, and parts have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents. 
     Many modifications and other implementations of the disclosure set forth herein will be apparent having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific implementations disclosed and that modifications and other implementations are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.