Patent Publication Number: US-2020284081-A1

Title: Door apparatus and methods of installing same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/803,139, filed Feb. 8, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the mechanical arts. One embodiment of the invention comprises a window apparatus for use in poultry houses. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a door apparatus for use in poultry houses. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a self-closing handle for use in poultry houses. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Controlling the level of light within a poultry house can be a critical factor in maximizing bird health and production, particularly in particularly in broiler houses in which birds are grown for consumption. Therefore, poultry houses have generally been constructed with minimal or no windows at all. However, in recent times there has been a movement toward increasing the amount of outdoor light that is allowed to penetrate into the interior of poultry houses. As such, there is a need for devices and methods to increase the amount of outdoor sunlight allowed into the interior of poultry houses. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a door apparatus that can be installed in the vents of existing poultry houses. Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-tensioning handle that can be used on vent doors in poultry houses. These and other objectives of the invention can be achieved in various embodiments of the invention described herein. 
     One embodiment of the invention comprises a window apparatus adapted for use in a poultry house. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises a door apparatus adapted to be installed within an existing vent of a poultry house. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the door apparatus is comprised of poly-carbonate and is transparent or translucent. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises a self-tensioning handle apparatus. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the handle apparatus can be used on a vent door of a poultry house. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises a kit for installing a door in a vent opening of a poultry house. The kit includes a transparent or translucent panel positioned within a substantially rectangular frame, an elongate rod positioned within the frame. The elongate rod has first and second opposite ends extending outwardly from the frame. The kit includes a first mounting bracket for receiving the first end of the rod and a second mounting bracket for receiving the second end of the rod. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a handle apparatus can be attached to an outer surface of the transparent or translucent panel. The handle apparatus can include an elongate section extending outwardly from the outer surface of the transparent or translucent panel, and an opening can be formed therein for receiving an elongate connecting member, such as a cable or cord. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the handle apparatus is comprised of glass filled nylon. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises a method of installing a door apparatus in a vent opening of a poultry house. The door apparatus comprises a transparent or translucent panel positioned within a substantially rectangular frame, and an elongate rod partially positioned within the frame having first and second opposite ends extending outwardly from the frame. A first mounting bracket is attached proximate a first corner of the vent opening, and attaching a second mounting bracket is attached proximate a second corner of the vent opening. The first end of the rod is positioned in the first mounting bracket, and the second end of the rod is positioned in the second mounting bracket, whereby the frame is pivotable about the rod between a closed position wherein the vent opening is closed by the door apparatus and an open position wherein the vent opening is exposed. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the door apparatus can include a handle apparatus attached to an outer surface of the transparent or translucent panel, The handle apparatus includes an elongate section extending outwardly from the outer surface of the transparent or translucent section. An elongate connecting member is attached to the elongate section. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the elongate connecting member is a cable, cord, rope or string. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, a pulley is positioned proximate the door apparatus, and the elongate connecting member is positioned through the pulley. 
     According to a winch is attached to an end of the elongate connecting member to the winch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a handle apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a door apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the door apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the door apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the door apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the door apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a door apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the door apparatus of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the door apparatus of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the door apparatus of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevation view of a handle apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear elevation view of the handle apparatus of  FIG. 10 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of the handle apparatus of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A handle apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and shown generally at reference numeral  10 . The handle apparatus  10  comprises a flat tongue-shaped member  12  extending upwardly from a mounting section  13 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The handle apparatus  10  is made of a strong, resilient material, such as glass filled nylon. The handle apparatus  10  can be mounted on a vent door in a poultry house, and can be used to increase the tension on the door to tighten the seal of the door and the poultry house. The handle apparatus  10  can be used on a variety of doors, including European style vent doors. 
     A door apparatus for use according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 2-5 , and shown generally at reference numeral  100 . The door apparatus  100  is adapted for use in a poultry house. The door apparatus  100  comprises the handle apparatus  10 , and a transparent or translucent panel  102  contained within an outer frame  104 . The handle apparatus  10  is mounted on the front surface of the panel  102 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . The transparent or translucent panel  102  is preferably comprised of polycarbonate. 
     Openings  17  are formed in the mounting section  13  of the handle apparatus  10 . Screws  22  can be positioned through the openings  17  of the mounting section  13  and through the panel  102 , and washers  23  and bolts  24  are positioned on the screws  22  from the opposite side of the panel  102  to mount the handle apparatus  10  to the panel  102 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The door apparatus  100  is adapted to be installed within the metal frame  154  of an existing vent  152  in the sidewall of a poultry house to allow for additional sunlight to enter into the poultry house. The door apparatus  100  can be retrofitted where there is already an existing vent door  150  covering the vent  152 . Winching on the existing vent door  150  is released prior to installation of the door apparatus  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the vent door  150  is pivoted downward, and a pair of corner brackets  111 ,  112  are mounted at opposite lower corners of the vent  152 . An elongate metal rod  106  is positioned within the lower side of the door apparatus frame  104 . Opposite ends of the rod  106  extend outwardly from the frame  104  and are received within the corner brackets  111 ,  112 . The door apparatus  100  can then pivot about the rod  106 , in and out of the vent opening  152 . A U-shaped latch  108  can be pivotably mounted to the vent frame  154  to function as a latch to keep the door apparatus  100  closed. 
     A cord  14  can be positioned through the opening  15  in the tongue member  12  of the handle apparatus  10 , and the cord  14  is tied to the handle apparatus  10 . Alternatively, the handle apparatus  10  can include a thumb nut that attaches the cord  14  to the handle  10 . Alternatively, a cable, rope, string or other elongate connecting member can be used in place of the cord  14 . A pulley  160  is mounted to the wall  156  of the poultry house, and the cord  14  is positioned through the pulley  160  and is connected to a winch  170 . When the winch  170  pulls the cord  14 , the cord  14  pulls the handle apparatus  10 , which pulls the door apparatus  100  inward toward the vent  152  thereby tightening the seal between the door apparatus  100  and the vent  152 . The handle apparatus  10  maintains closing tension on the door apparatus  100 , even when the cord  14  slips or is stretched. The handle apparatus  10  provides additional tension on the door apparatus  100 , whereby the door apparatus  100  provides a tight seal of the vent opening  152 . This minimizes the amount of gas that can pass through the vent opening  152  when the door apparatus  100  is closed, which is of great importance in poultry houses. Also, the door apparatus  100  allows sunlight to come into the poultry house via the transparent/translucent panel  102 . 
     The handle apparatus  10  eliminates the need for weekly vent door adjustments, and results in savings on propane. The handle apparatus  10  provides greater control over the tightness and static pressure of the poultry house, and helps eliminate write-ups for open/cracked vent doors. 
     A door apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 6-9 , and shown generally at reference numeral  200 . The door apparatus  100  comprises a transparent or translucent panel  202  contained within an outer frame  204 , and the previously described handle apparatus  10 . The transparent/translucent panel  102  is preferably comprised of polycarbonate, and the outer frame  204  is preferably comprised of metal. 
     The handle apparatus  10  is mounted on the front surface of the panel  202 , as shown in  FIGS. 6-9 . Screws  22  can be positioned through the openings  17  of the mounting section  13  and through the panel  202 , and washers  23  and bolts  24  are positioned on the screws  22  from the opposite side of the panel  202  to mount the handle apparatus  10  to the panel  202 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Alternatively, other suitable fasteners can be used to attach the handle apparatus  10  to the transparent/translucent panel  202 . 
     The door apparatus  200  is adapted to be installed over a vent opening  252  of a newly constructed poultry house where there is no previously existing vent door. The transparent/translucent panel  202  is attached to the bottom side of the outer frame  204  by a pair of hinges  211 ,  212 . As such, the panel  202  can pivot about the hinges  211 ,  212 . The outer frame  204  can be mounted to the vent frame  254  by a plurality of fasteners such as screws  222 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     The door panel  202  can pivot about the hinges  211 ,  212 , in and out of the vent opening  252 . A U-shaped latch  208  can be pivotably mounted to the vent frame outer frame  204  to function as a latch to keep the door panel  202  closed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a cord  14  can be positioned through the opening  15  in the tongue member  12  of the handle apparatus  10 , and the cord  14  is tied to the handle apparatus  10 . Alternatively, a cable, rope, string or other elongate connecting member can be used in place of the cord  14 . A pulley  260  is mounted to the wall  256  of the poultry house, and the cord  14  is positioned through the pulley  260  and is connected to a winch  270 . When the winch  270  pulls the cord  14 , the cord  14  pulls the handle apparatus  10 , which pulls the door apparatus  200  inward toward the vent  252  thereby tightening the seal between the door apparatus  200  and the vent  252 . The handle apparatus  10  maintains closing tension on the door apparatus  200 , even when the cord  14  slips or is stretched. The handle apparatus  10  provides additional tension on the door apparatus  200 , whereby the door apparatus  200  provides a tight seal of the vent opening  252 . This minimizes the amount of gas that can pass through the vent opening  252  when the door apparatus  200  is closed, which is of great importance in poultry houses. Also, the door apparatus  200  allows sunlight to come into the poultry house via the transparent/translucent panel  202 . 
     The door apparatus  200  eliminates the need for weekly vent door adjustments, and results in savings on propane. The door apparatus  200  provides greater control over the tightness and static pressure of the poultry house, and helps eliminate write-ups for open/cracked vent doors. 
     The door  200  can then be pivoted about the rod  106 , in and out of the vent opening, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The handle apparatus  10  can include a cord, pulley and winch (not shown), and maintain closing tension on the door  100 . The transparent/translucent door apparatus  100  allows sunlight to come into the poultry house. 
     A handle apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 10-12 , and shown generally at reference numeral  50 . The handle apparatus  50  comprises a flat tongue-shaped member  52  extending upwardly from a mounting section  53 . An opening  55  is formed in the tongue-shaped member  52  to receive a cord or other elongate connecting member therethrough. A pair of openings  57  are formed in the mounting section  53  to receive fasteners therethrough to attach the handle apparatus  50  to a door. An L-shaped member  58  extends outwardly from the mounting section  53 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     The apparatus  50  includes a rib member  51  on a front surface of the tongue-shaped member  52 , shown in  FIG. 10 , and a pair of longer rib members  61 ,  62 , on the opposite back surface of the tongue-shaped member  52 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . The rib members  51 ,  61 ,  62  provide added strength so the tongue shaped member  52  resists bending. The handle apparatus  50  is made of a strong, resilient material, such as glass filled nylon. The handle apparatus  50  can be mounted on a vent door in a poultry house, and can be used to increase the tension on the door to tighten the seal of the door and the poultry house. The handle apparatus  10  can be used on a variety of doors, including European style vent doors. The handle apparatus  50  can be a component of the previously described door apparatus  100  and door apparatus  200 . 
     A handle apparatus and door apparatus are described above. Various changes can be made to the invention without departing from its scope. The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation—the invention being defined by the claims and equivalents thereof.