Patent Publication Number: US-2009236052-A1

Title: Pliable shrouds for a horizontal side-rolling door

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE  
     The subject disclosure relates generally to a horizontal side-rolling fabric door and more specifically to a pliable frame cover for such a door. 
     BACKGROUND  
     Horizontal side-rolling fabric doors, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,902; includes one or two vertical rollers at either one or both lateral edges of the doorway. Some horizontal side-rolling doors have a single roller at one side of the doorway with a single curtain that extends and retracts across the full width of the doorway. 
     In some cases, the “single curtain” is actually comprised of two layers, each having its own vertical take-up roller. In such cases, the two rollers are right next to each other at one lateral edge of the doorway. As the door opens, the two layers of the curtain separate at the edge of the doorway and wrap upon their respective rollers. 
     Other horizontal side-rolling doors include two individual curtains, each supported by its own roller at opposite lateral edges of the doorway. For such doors, the two separate curtains meet at the center of the doorway as the door closes. To open the door, the two curtains move apart from each other and wrap upon their own roller (or set of rollers if each curtain has two layers). 
     The curtain rollers are typically housed within some type of enclosure. Such enclosures, however, can make it difficult to access the roller for repair or other service operations. 
     The enclosures are also susceptible to damage by way of direct impact from a vehicle passing through the doorway or by way of indirect impact if the vehicle strikes the curtain. The leading edge of the curtain typically is reinforced by a rigid structural member that is used for closing the door and for holding the leading edge substantially straight and upright. When that structural member is struck in a certain direction, the curtain might forcibly push against the enclosure components, interfering with full curtain movement and potentially damaging the curtain components or enclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         FIG. 1  is a front view a horizontal side-rolling door shown in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the door of  FIG. 1  but showing the door open. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 , wherein a shroud is in an installed position. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 3  but showing the shroud in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 4  but showing the shroud completely removed from its supporting frame. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the shroud and roller at the left side of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a front view similar to  FIG. 6  but showing the shroud moving from the installed position to the retracted position. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     Certain examples are shown in the above-identified figures and described in detail below. In describing these examples, like or identical reference numbers are used to identify common or similar elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic for clarity and/or conciseness. Additionally, several examples have been described throughout this specification. Any features from any example may be included with, a replacement for, or otherwise combined with other features from other examples. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a horizontal side-rolling door  10  with at least one curtain  12  that moves horizontally across a doorway  14  to open and close the door. In this particular example, door  10  includes two curtains  12  and  16  supported by spring-loaded rollers  18  installed in proximity with lateral edges  20  of doorway  14 . A preloaded torsion spring  22  urges each roller  18  to rotate in a direction that tends to draw in and wrap the respective curtain  12  or  16  onto itself. An overhead track  24  and drive unit  26  coupled to rigid support members  30  at the leading edges of curtains  12  and  16  are used for opening and closing the door  10 .  FIG. 1  shows door  10  closed with the curtains&#39;  16  leading edges abutting each other near the center of doorway  14 , and  FIG. 2  shows door  10  open with most of the curtains wrapped around rollers  12  and  16 . 
     Referring further to  FIGS. 3-5 , roller  18  is supported by a frame comprising a base  32  on floor  34 , a back frame member  36  attached to wall  38 , and an upper bracket  40  ( FIG. 1 ) extending from frame member  36 . Both rollers  18  are supported in a similar manner. 
     To help shield roller  18 , a shroud  42  made of pliable material extends from back frame member  36  over to an edge frame member  44 . Edge frame member  44  is removably coupled to base  32  and upper bracket  40 , as will be explained in more detail below. Since shroud  42  is made of a pliable material, it is preferably stretched taut when edge frame member  44  is coupled to base  32  and upper bracket  40  to give shroud  42  a flat and neat, unwrinkled appearance. The pliability of the shroud material also allows the shroud  42  to absorb direct minor impact by flexing. Shroud  42  can be made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, a natural material or a synthetic fabric material, a plastic sheeting, and various layers and/or combinations thereof. The shroud material can be optionally coated and/or impregnated with any suitable material such as, for example, various polymers, to give the shroud material desirable properties such as, for example, being anti-microbial. A corner frame member  46  coupled to base  32  and bracket  40  helps hold shroud  42  in a generally L-shaped configuration, as viewed in  FIG. 3 . 
     A touch-and-hold fastener  48  (e.g., VELCRO®) can be used for attaching a proximal end  50  of shroud  42  to back frame member  36 ; however, numerous other ways of affixing proximal end  50  can certainly be used. 
     To protect shroud  42 , the curtain assembly, and edge frame member  44  from damage in the event that door  10  is accidentally struck in a direction  52  ( FIGS. 3 and 9 ) generally coming from wall  3   8 , a distal end  54  of shroud  42  is mounted preferably in a removable or breakaway manner, as shown in  FIGS. 6-9 . In some examples, edge frame member  44  is tubular (e.g., a steel pipe) and is installed within a looped section  56  of shroud  42 . Frame member  44  may be loosely held within loop  56  to allow member  44  to be readily removed and replaced without damage. Edge frame member  44  is held in place between an upper pin  58 , extending downward from bracket  40 , and a lower anchor  60  in the shape of a short pin protruding upward from base  32 . Although edge frame member  44  is relatively stiff, its limited flexibility and axial clearance  62  under bracket  40  allows member  44 , when impacted, to flex and move up and off of anchor  60 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The ability of edge frame member  44  to break away in such a manner when a force exceeding a threshold magnitude is applied may be enhanced by providing anchor  60  with a tapered upper surface  64  ( FIG. 7 ). Surface  64  could be conical, hemispherical, rounded, or any other suitable shape to promote breakaway action in any direction, or surface  64  could face just certain directions so that edge frame member  44  breaks away in some directions easier than others. In the preferred example, tapered surface  64  generally faces wall  38  to promote breakaway action from that direction. 
     Corner frame member  46  can be mounted in a similar manner. The breakaway feature may not be as important in this area, thus corner frame member  46  in a tubular form (e.g., a pipe) is held in place between an upper pin  66 , extending downward from bracket  40 , and a lower pin  68  protruding upward from base  32 . Clearance  70  ( FIG.7 ) under bracket  40  allows corner frame member  46  to be readily installed and replaced, for example, by simply lifting member  46  up and over lower pin  68 . 
     To gain access to roller  18  for servicing, the relationship between edge frame member  44  and anchor  60  allows shroud  42  to be moved manually from an installed position of  FIG. 3  to a retracted position of  FIG. 4 . In examples where proximal end  50  is removably attached, shroud  42  can be completely removed as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     In some examples, door  10  includes a seal  72  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) that runs substantially the full height of curtain  12 . Seal  72  may be a flexible loop that is sewn or otherwise attached to an inner surface of shroud  42 . When shroud  42  is in the installed position of  FIG. 3 , a central portion of the seal&#39;s  72  loop sealingly engages a face of curtain  12 , at least when curtain  12  is fully rolled up on roller  18 . Other seal designs and configurations are well within the scope of the disclosure. 
     A flexible end seal  74  may be attached to each of the leading edges of curtains  12  and  16  so that seals  74  abut each other when door  10  is closed. 
     At least some of the aforementioned examples include one or more features and/or benefits including, but not limited to, the following: 
     In some examples, a horizontal side-rolling door includes a flexible shroud that shields the door curtain&#39;s take-up roller. 
     In some examples, the shroud both shields and seals a curtain extending from a roller. 
     In some examples, a door curtain roller is shielded by a shroud that is supported by a resiliently flexible breakaway frame. 
     In some examples, a door curtain roller is shielded by a shroud that is selectively movable between an installed position and a retracted position. 
     In some examples, a door curtain roller is shielded by a shroud that is supported by frame members that can be readily replaced without the use of tools. 
     In some examples, a door curtain roller is shielded by a shroud assembly that can break away without significant permanent damage. 
     In some example, the shroud assembly can break away in certain directions easier than others. 
     The foregoing examples provide a better enclosure for shielding a curtain roller of a horizontal side-rolling door. Furthermore, although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.