Patent Publication Number: US-3878583-A

Title: Adjustable header with removable facing cover

Description:
United States Patent 1 1 Smart [4 1 Apr. 22, 1975 1 ADJUSTABLE HEADER WITH REMOVABLE FACING COVER [76] Inventor: Jay A. Smart, 4230 Morning Star Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah 841 17 [22] Filed: Jan. 7, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 431,486  
 Primary Examiner-Richard .l. Scanlan, Jr. Attorney, Agenl, or FirmClarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT An elongated overhead door track assembly is supported within and extends along a downwardly opening recess defined between horizontally spaced apart generally parallel ceiling surface edge portions and the track assembly includes a central longitudinal portion and a pair of opposite side portions elevated above the central portion. A pair of spaced horizontal angle members including upwardly directed upstanding flanges and lower generally horizontal flanges projecting inwardly toward each other are provided and the angle members underlie the opposite side portions of the track assembly with the upper and inner marginal edges of the upstanding and horizontal flanges, respectively, readily removably supported from the opposite side portions of the track assembly and the opposite side portions of said central longitudinal portion, respectively. The upstanding and horizontal flanges are removably snap fittingly engaged with the opposite side and central longitudinal portion of the track assembly and the angle members enclose areas below the opposite side portions of the track assembly through which the lower ends of upstanding tension members are secured by abutment portions removably threadedly engaged thereon, the tension member serving to support the track assembly from a building structure disposed thereabove.  
 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE HEADERWITH REMOVABLE FACING COVER BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION Overhead door track. assemblies are conventionally supported in downwardly opening recesses defined between horizontally spaced apart and generally parallel ceiling surface edge portions. However. previous overhead door track assemblies have included either visible means of suspending the overhead door track assembly from a ceiling structure or means at least somewhat hidden from view but which are difficult to gain access to. Also. folding door constructions of the type supported from overhead door track assemblies are constructed in standard sizes and the spacing of a ceiling structure above a floor structure is not always constant with the spacing provided for in the design of the building with the result that an overhead track assembly from which a folding door construction is suspended must be precisely oriented relative to the ceiling in relation to the floor in order to assure that the lower edge portion of the folding door assembly is properly spaced from the floor.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is the main object of this invention to provide a convenient means of supporting an overhead door track assembly from ceiling structure spaced above and between horizontally spaced apart generally parallel ceiling surface edge portions.  
  It is another important object of this invention to pro vide an overhead door track assembly constructed in a manner whereby the track assembly may be adjustably oriented in relation to the ceiling in order that the track assembly may be leveled and disposed at a constant spacing above the flooring disposed beneath the associated ceiling structure.  
  Still another object of this invention is to provide a suspension system for an elongated overhead door track assembly constructed in a manner whereby the fastening means by which the assembly is supported from the associated ceiling structure may be fully concealed and yet readily accessible when adjustments in the positioning of the door track assembly or maintenance thereon is necessary.  
  A final object ofthis invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide an elongated overhead door track assembly and suspension system therefor which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture. be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible. long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.  
  These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed. reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof. wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view of the adjustable folding door header construction of the instant invention;  
  FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through one side portion of the header construction and with the latter illustrated supported within a downwardly opening recess formed in a ceiling construction; and  
 &#39; 7 FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIG. 2.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The numeral 10 generally designates a ceiling construction having a downwardly opening recess 12 formed therein. The recess 12 is bound on its opposite ends and defined by a first pair of horizontally spaced apart generally parallel ceiling surface edge portions 14 and I6 and defined and bound by a second pair of generally parallel ceiling surface edge portions 18 and 20 on its opposite side portions.  
  The adjustable header construction of the instant invention includes two pairs of transversely spaced opposite end depending tension members 22 which have their upper ends (not shown) stationarily anchored to upper portions of the ceiling structure 10. The lower ends of the tension members 22 are externally threaded as at 24 and project downwardly to a level closely adjacent but slightly spaced above a horizontal plane containing the ceiling surface edge portions 14. I6, I8 and 20. A pair of upper and lower header members 26 and 28 are secured together and have vertical bores 30 formed therethrough. The lower ends of the tension members 22 project downwardly through the bores 30 and the lower ends of the bores 30 formed in the header 28 are provided with shallow counter bores 32.  
  A double track assembly is secured to the underside of the lower header 28 in any convenient manner and includes a pair of opposite side tracks 36 and a center air exhausting channel 35. However. the channel may be omitted and replaced by a third center track (not shown). if desired in theevent there is to be a track supported vertical lead postprovided on the associated double folding door structure. The opposite side tracks 36 define opposite side portions of a central longitudinal portion of the double track assembly and the track assembly includes horizontal opposite side flange portions 38 having longitudinally spacedapertures 40 formed therethrough. The flange portions 38 extend along the opposite side marginal portions of the underside of the header 28 and beneath the counter bores 32. Washers 42 are disposed in the counter bores 32 above the flange portions 38 and the remote marginal edge portions of the flange portions 38 include down-turned marginal flanges 44 including lower end inwardly projecting longitudinally extending ribs 46. Also. the outer surfaces of the remote sides of the tracks or track members 36 include longitudinally extending outwardly opening grooves 48.  
  In operation. it may be seen from FIGS.-l, 2.-.and-3 of the drawings that the lower ends of the tension members 22 are secured downwardly through the bores 30 and the apertures 40 by means of threaded nuts and that in this manner the double track assembly 34 may be properly spaced relative to a floor structure disposed therebeneath throughout its length, even though the ceiling structure 10 may not parallel the flooring structure.  
  The threaded nuts 50 are readily accessible for adjustment of the double track assembly 34 or for removal of the latter in case of a need for maintenance or replacement arises.  
  A pair of elongated angle members 52 are provided and include upwardly directed upstanding flanges 5-1 and lower generally horizontal inwardly projecting flanges 56 which project toward each other. The remote outer surfaces of the upper marginal edge portions of the upstanding flanges 54 include horizontally outwardly opening and longitudinally extending grooves 58 in which the ribs 46 are snap-fittingly engaged and the adjacent longitudinal edge portions of the flanges 56 include upturned flanges 60 including longitudinally extending ribs 62 which are snapfittingly engaged in the grooves 48. Accordingly. the angle members 52 may be readily snapped into position in the manner illustrated in FlG. 3 of the drawings. or readily removed for access to the threaded nuts 50.  
  lt will also be noted that the upstanding flanges 54 include downward extensions 64 which project below the flanges 56 and define facing flanges for receiving the upper marginal edge portion of the associated double folding door structure therebetween. Also. each of the extensions 64 includes a horizontally outwardly projecting flange 66 which underlaps the corresponding and adjacent ceiling surface 68. Accordingly. the angle members 52 not only provide a closure for enclosing the threaded bolts 50 and enabling easy access thereto but also facing flanges between which to receive the double folding door assembly and for underlying the adjacent ceiling surface edge portions.  
  The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further. since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to. falling within the scope of the invention.  
 What is claimed as new is as follows:  
  I. An adjustable header construction including horizontally spaced pairs of stationarily and dependingly supported suspension tension members. a pair of spaced ceiling surfaces defining an elongated downwardly opening recess therebetween in and along which said pairs of tension members are disposed and spaced. an elongated overhead and generally horizontal door track assembly including longitudinal opposite side portions and disposed in said recess. the lower ends of said tension members being secured through longitudinally spaced portions of said opposite side portions of said track assembly. said track assembly including a central longitudinal portion disposed between and at an elevation below said opposite side portions. and a pair of spaced horizontal elongated angle members including upwardly directed upstanding flanges and lower generally horizontal flanges projecting inwardly toward each other. means removably supporting said angle members from said opposite side portions of said track assembly with the upper and inner marginal edges of said upstanding and horizontal flanges readily removably supported from said opposite side portions of said track assembly outwardly of said tension members and from the opposite side portions of said central longitudinal portion. respectively.  
  2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said angle members include outwardly projecting and longitudinally extending flange portions projecting outwardly from the remote sides of said upstanding flanges spaced below the upper marginal edge portions thereof and including remote free edge portions closely underlying the adjacent marginal edge portions of said spaced ceiling surfaces.  
  3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said opposite side and central longitudinal portions of said track assembly and the upper and inner marginal edge portions ofsaid upstanding and horizontal flanges include coacting means disposed in readily disengageable snap fit engagement with each other.  
  4. ln combination with an elongated overhead door track assembly supported within and extending along a downwardly opening space defined between horizontally spaced apart parallel ceiling surface edge portions. said track assembly including a central longitudinal portion and a pair of opposite side longitudinal portions elevated above said central portion. a pair of spaced horizontal angle members including upwardly directed upstanding flanges and lower generally horizontal flanges projecting inwardly toward each other, said angle members and said track assembly including coacting means readily releasably supporting said angle members in position underlying said opposite side portions of said track assembly with the upper and inner marginal edges of said upstanding and horizontal flanges readily removably supported from said opposite side portions of said track assembly and from the opposite side portions of said central longitudinal portion. respectively.  
  5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said angle members include outwardly projecting and longitudinally extending flange portions projecting outwardly from the remote sides of said upstanding flanges spaced below the upper marginal edge portions thereof and including remote free edge portions closely underlying the adjacent marginal edge portions of said spaced ceiling surfaces.  
  6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said opposite side and central longitudinal portions of said track assembly and the upper and inner marginal edge portions of said upstanding and horizontal flanges include coacting means disposed in readily disengageable snap fit engagement with each other.  
  7. The combination of claim 1 including an elongated generally horizontal header. said track assembly being secured to and supported from the underside of said header. said tension members being disposed in pairs of tension members spaced apart transversely of said recess with said pairs of tension members spaced longitudinally along said recess. said header including opposite side marginal upstanding bores formed therethrough at points spaced therealong downwardly through which the lower ends of said tension members are adjustably secured.  
  8. An adjustable header construction including horizontally spaced pairs of stationarily and dependingly supported suspension tension members. a pair of spaced ceiling surfaces defining an elongated downwardly opening recess therebetween in and along which said pairs of tension members are disposed and spaced. an elongated overhead and generally horizontal door track assembly including longitudinal opposite side portions and disposed in said recess. the lower ends of said tension members being secured through longitudinally spaced portions of said opposite side portions of said track assembly. said track assembly including a central longitudinal portion disposed between and at an elevation below said opposite side portions. said central longitudinal portion including support means for guidingly supporting a depending door assembly for movement along said track assembly. a pair of elongated joining members. means remoyably supporting said joining members from said header construction in position spaced below and extending along said opposite side portions. said joining members including remote side outwardly projecting horizontal flange portions closely underlying the adjacent marginal edge portions of said spaced ceiling surfaces said joining members including opposite longitudinal marginal portions. said means remo ably supporting said