Patent Publication Number: US-2016230439-A1

Title: System and Method for Securing a Garage Door

Description:
This application claims priority to provisional application 62/113,164 filed Feb. 6, 2015, entitled “Garage Defender.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to a system and method for securing a garage door. 
     Garage break-ins are a growing problem today. One of the reasons that garage-break-ins are increasing is because breaking into a typical garage is actually quite simple and fast. A garage door can be broken into in just  6  seconds. A burglar can easily slip a thin wire through the small gap between the frame and the top edge of the garage door. The wire can be bent to resemble the shape of a hook, which can be used to pull on the emergency release mechanism or drop down rope. After pulling the emergency release mechanism or the drop down rope, the garage door can be opened. A garage break-in may take an even shorter amount of time if the garage door has windows wherein the release mechanism or drop down rope can be visible. Some solutions exist, however, such solutions to this problem requires a permanent and complicated installation process. 
     As such it would be useful to have an improved system and method for securing a garage door. 
     SUMMARY 
     A garage defense system is disclosed. The system can comprise a main plate, a brace, a thumb screw and a pair of fasteners. The main plate can comprise a slot and one or more pairs of first fastener orifices. The brace can comprise an indention and a pair of brace arms on opposite sides of the indention. Further, the indention can wrap around a connection arm, and can comprise a thumb screw orifice. Each of the brace arms can comprise a second fastener orifice. The second fastener orifices on the brace arms can be aligned with the first fastener orifices. Each fastener can pass within one of the first fastener orifices and the second fastener orifices, such that the brace is connected to the main plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a garage defense system installed in a garage door system. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a main plate comprising one or more pair of fastener orifice, and a slot. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a brace comprising a pair of brace arms and an indention capable of wrapping around a connection arm. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a thumb screw. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a clip comprising a nut. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of a plate. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of fasteners. 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates positioning of a main plate with the joint of a connection arm 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates fastening main plate with a brace through fasteners. 
         FIG. 7C  illustrates tightening a brace with a connection arm using a thumb screw. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Described herein is a system and method for securing a garage door. The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers&#39; specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Similarly, any dimensions given are solely exemplary, i.e., offered to give a person having ordinary skill in the art an example implementation, and are not limiting. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a garage defense system  100  installed in a garage door system  101 . Garage door system  101  that is installed to a garage door  102  can mainly comprise of a connection arm  103 , and a pulley  104 . Connection arm  103  can be a support frame used to connect garage door  102  with pulley  104 . Moreover, connection arm  103  can be referred to as the J-arm, curved arm, L-link, door brace, door arm, and so on. Pulley  104  can be used pull connection arm  103  to lift garage door  102 . Pulley  104  can further comprise a release mechanism  105  and a release rope  106 . Pulling release mechanism  105  using release 
     rope  106  can allow garage door  102  to open. Garage defense system  100  can be installed and/or mounted to connection arm  103  of garage door system  101 . Moreover, garage defense system  100  can prevent release mechanism  105  and release rope  106  from being accessed through a gap  107  of garage door  102 . Gap  107  can be a small opening above garage door  102 . 
     Further, garage defense system  100  can comprise a main plate  108 , a brace  109 , and one or more fasteners  110 . In one embodiment, garage defense system  100  can comprise of plastic materials. In some embodiment, garage defense system  100  can comprise of metal materials such as aluminum. Main plate  108  can be a thin platform that is used as a barrier between pulley  104  and gap  107 . Brace  109  can be capable of securing main plate  108  with connection arm  103 . Fasteners  110  can be any type of fastening mechanism, which can include but is not limited to clamp, screws, nuts, and bolts. Fasteners  110  can affix main plate  108  to connection arm  103 . In a preferred embodiment, fasteners  110  can be a quick release fastener such as a snap-in fastener that can secure main plate  108  with brace  109  and connection arm  103 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a main plate  108  comprising one or more pairs of fastener orifice  201 , and a slot  202 . Main plate  108  can be in any shape and size, such as substantially rectangular, and circular. Main plate can prevent an intruder from using a wire to engage release mechanism  105 . 
     In this embodiment, each fastener orifice  201  can be a circular shape orifice from the front face through the back face of main plate  108 . Pairs of fastener orifice  201  can be aligned vertically along the middle section of main plate  108 . Each pair of fastener orifice  201  can be at a certain distance to the left and right of the center of main plate  108 , such that fastener orifice  201  can be aligned with brace  109 . Moreover, pair of fastener orifice  201  can be equidistant from the side faces of main plate  108 . Furthermore, fastener orifice  201  can allow main plate  108  to be adjusted for optimal fit, adjacent and flush to garage door pulley  104 . 
     In this embodiment, the top and wider portion of main plate  108  can be the top face of main plate  108 , which can comprise slot  202 . Slot  202  can be an orifice through the center of the top face of main plate  108 . Slot  202  can be used to create a passage for the joint of connection arm  103 . Additionally, slot  202  can ensure that garage door pulley  104  can move with ease and not encounter garage defense system  100  when garage door system  101  expands and retracts during the opening and closing of garage door  102 . In a preferred embodiment, slot  202  can comprise a substantially rectangular or square shape. Example dimensions of slot  202  can be 1 inch by 1 inch. In some embodiments, slot  202  can comprise varying vertical cross-sectional shapes and sizes that can allow enough space for the movement of the joint of connection arm  103  but still protects release mechanism  105  and release rope  106  from being engaged by any wire that is used by an individual to break into the garage. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates brace  109  comprising an indention  301 , and a pair of brace arms  302 . Brace  109  can be a frame, which surrounds connection arm  103  of garage door  102 , and provides a platform for main plate  108  to attach to. Indention  301  can wrap around the back face and the side faces of connection arm  103  of garage system  101 . Indention  301  can be a U-shaped plate that can comprise a back plate  303  and a pair of side plates  304 . Back plate  303  can be perpendicular to side plates  304 , which protrude forwards from the side faces of back plate  303 . Back plate  303  can comprise a width that is compatible with the back face of connection arm  103 . When indention  301  is engaged with connection arm  103 , back plate  303  can be adjacent to the back face of connection arm  103 . In a preferred embodiment, indention  301  can comprise a width of 0.515 inches and a height of 4 inches. Side plates  304  can be an angle away from each other, and protrude forwards from the side faces of back plate  303 . Side plates  303  can comprise a width that corresponds to the height of the side faces of connection arm  103 . In a preferred embodiment, each side plate  304  can comprise a width of 0.15 inches, a height of 4 inches, and a depth of 1 inch. 
     In a preferred embodiment, brace  109  can comprise side plates  304  that have a distance of 0.60 inches in between the inner front edges of side plates  304 . Each brace arm  302  can extend outwards from the inner front edges of side plates  304 . Brace arms  302  can be perpendicular to side plates  304  and parallel to back plate  303 . In a preferred embodiment, brace arms  302  can comprise a width of about 3 inches, a height of 4 inches, and a depth of 0.125 inches. Each brace arm  302  can comprise a hole  305 . Hole  305  can be a circular orifice through the back and the front faces of brace arms  302 . Hole  305  can house fasteners  110 , when fasteners  110  are engaged. Hole  305  can be a certain distance away from the inner edge of brace arms  302 , which correspond to fastener orifice  201 . In a preferred embodiment, each brace arm  302  can comprise hole  305  that is roughly 1⅓ inches from the inner edge of each brace arms  302 , and 2 inches from the bottom edge of each brace arm  302 . Additionally, hole  305  can have a radius of around 0.29 inches in one embodiment. Such measurements are based on common dimensions of presently regularly manufactured garage doors, but can be adjusted by a person having ordinary skill in the art to perform substantially the same method as described in this disclosure on garage doors having different dimensions. 
     In some embodiments, each brace arm  302  can comprise hole  305  of varying size and locations, so long as hole  305  can correspond with fastener orifice  201 . 
     In one embodiment, brace  109  can further comprise a thumb screw  306  and a clip  307 . In a preferred embodiment, thumb screw  306  can be permanently attached to side plate  304  through a clip  307 . Clip  307  can be attached to one of side plates  304 . Clip  307  can be placed at the bottom of one of side plate  304 , and near the junction of one of side plate  304  and one of brace arm  302 . Further, thumb screw  306  can be attached at the top portion of clip  307 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates thumb screw  306 . Thumb screw  306  can comprise a flat vertical heat that can allow the user to easily turn and actuate thumb screw  306 . Furthermore, thumbscrew  306  can comprise a flat tip such that when thumb screw  306  is driven towards connection arms  103 , the flat tip of thumbscrew  306  can provide better hold with connection arms  103 . 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates clip  307  comprising a nut  401 . In one embodiment, clip  307  can be attachable and detachable from brace  109 . In such embodiment, the flexible prongs of clip  307  can wrap around brace  109 , which secures clip  307  in place. In another embodiment, clip  307  can be permanently attached to brace  109  through methods that include but are not limited to fastening, molding, cementing, and soldering. Further, thumb screw  306  can be compatible and mateable with clip  307 . As such, the shaft of thumb screw  306  can be insertable within nut  401  of clip  307  in such a way that fastens the two together when thumb screw  306  screws into clip  307 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of main plate  108 . In this embodiment, main plate  108  can be substantially rectangular shape. In a preferred substantially rectangular shape embodiment, main plate  108  can comprise a height of 9 inches, a width of 10 inches, and a depth of 0.125 inches or more 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of fasteners  110 . In this embodiment, garage defense system  100  can be capable of quick attachment onto connection arm  103 . In such embodiment, fasteners  110  can be any quick attachment fasteners that can include but are not limited to quick release pin, snap-in fastener, or a panel retainer  600 . Panel retainer  600  can comprise a head  601 , a body  602 , and a tip  603 . Head  601  can form at the top of panel retainer  600 . Head  601  can be capable of preventing panel retainer  600  from slipping out of fastener orifice  201 . In one embodiment, body  602  can have angled ridges  604  and a non-ridged portion  605 . Non-ridged portion  605  can be a flat vertical portion along body  602  that runs perpendicular with head  601 . Tip  603  can be a pointed tip of panel retainer  600 . Angled ridges can allow panel retainer to slip into fastener orifice  201  and holes  305  with little resistance, but come back out with great resistance. 
       FIG. 7A  illustrates positioning of main plate  108  with the joint of connection arm  103 . Initially, the back face of main plate  108  can be positionable against the front face of connection arm  103 . Furthermore, slot  202  can be aligned as close as possible with the joint of connection arm  103 , towards pulley  104 . Main plate  108  can be positionable on connection arm  103  such that main plate  108  does not disrupt the movement of connection arm  103 , when garage door  102  opens and closes. 
     Next, brace  109  can be aligned against the back face of connection arm  103  and the back face of main plate  108 . The front face of back plate  303  can be positionable against the bottom face of connection arm  103 , while the front face of brace arms  302  can be adjacent to the back face of main plate  108 . The vertical position of brace  109  can be adjusted in relation to fastener orifice  201  of main plate  108  through sliding brace  109  within connection arm  103 . 
       FIG. 7B  illustrates fastening main plate  108  with brace  109  through fasteners  110 . Brace  109  can be adjusted and be aligned such that holes  305  can be aligned with one of the pairs of fastener orifice  201 . Once aligned, a pair of panel retainers  600  can be pushed through holes  305  and fastener orifice  201 . Inserting panel retainers  600  through holes  305  and fastener orifice  201  can secure main plate  108  to connection arm  103 . Brace  109  must be adjacent to main plate  108  throughout the process until garage defense system  100  is secured with panel retainers  600 . 
       FIG. 7C  illustrates tightening brace  109  with connection arm  103  using thumb screw  306 . After panel retainers  600  are attached to garage defense system  100 , thumb screw  306  that is mounted onto brace  109  can be fastened to secure brace  109  with connection arm  103 . Once garage defense system  100  is securely attached to connection arm  103 , main plate  108  can serve as a barrier when an individual tries to reach release mechanism  105  or release rope  106 , through gap  107  on garage door  102 . 
     Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”