Patent Publication Number: US-10767408-B2

Title: Garage door carrier system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This relates to overhead garage doors, in particular, a system and method for carrying an overhead garage door between a closed position and an open position. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional garage doors may be formed of a single panel, or as a sectional garage door, may be formed of two or more jointed panels. 
     Standard garage door sizes commonly used in the garage door industry may be characterized as single, double or commercial. A double garage door may, for example, have a measurement of 16 feet wide by 7 feet high, and have a mass of up to 225 pounds. Commercial garage doors may measure up to 32 feet in width and up to 24 feet in height. 
     A number of techniques exist to move a garage door between a closed position and an open position. For example, a single panel garage door may tilt between a closed position and an open position using jamb-type hardware to swing up and overhead with a hinge on each side. Alternatively, a sectional garage door may have rollers that follow along a track and may be actuated by a hinge on each side of the garage door. The sectional garage door may move between a closed position and an open position overhead along a track, and the jointed panels articulate as the door moves between a closed and open position. 
     Mechanisms used to operate movement of a sectional garage door between a closed position and an open position may also be spring-loaded. For example, in a torsion spring lift mechanism, a torsion spring is attached to cable drums that are above each end of the garage door. The cable drums turn as the torsion spring unwinds, pulling up cables that are affixed to the bottom of each end of the garage door. As the cables wrap around the cable drums, the garage door lifts and the panels roll along an arcuate track from a vertical section to an overhead horizontal section. As the garage door rises and the torsion spring unwinds, the weight of the door is transferred to the horizontal section of the track. 
     An extension spring lift mechanism acts as a counterbalance to the mass of a sectional garage door. In a closed position, the spring is extended to its longest length, and when moved into a vertical position, a cable runs via a pulley system between the spring and the bottom of the garage door to lift the garage door as the spring contracts. As the garage door rises, the panels of the garage door roll along an arcuate track from a vertical section to an overhead horizontal section. 
     Such traditional garage door openers have a number of moving parts, including springs, cables, and pulleys, that are vulnerable to break down from normal operating wear. A commercial underground parking garage may require thousands of cycles of closing and opening of a garage door per year. The strain on such traditional systems may cause hundreds of breakdowns, causing downtime, and tens of thousands of dollars in repairs a year to keep operational. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a way to move a garage door between a closed position and an open position with a longer lifespan, less downtime, and reduced operating and repair costs. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect, there is provided a carrier system for carrying a garage door between a defined closed position in which the garage door is generally vertical and blocks entry of a vehicle into a garage through an opening, and a defined open position in which the garage door is generally horizontal and allows entry of the vehicle into the garage through the opening, the carrier system comprising: a track for guiding the garage door by rolling engagement with the track; a lever rotatable about a pivot, the lever having an in-lever arm at a first side of the pivot and an out-lever arm at a second, opposing, side of the pivot, the out-lever arm extending from the pivot to a load end, the load end rotatably connected to the garage door; and a counterweight connected to the in-lever arm to provide in-force at the in-lever arm, translated as out-force at the load end of the out-lever arm, as the lever rotates about the pivot, to carry the garage door between the defined closed position and the defined open position. 
     According to another aspect, there is provided a method of carrying a garage door between a defined closed position in which the garage door is generally vertical and blocks entry of a vehicle into a garage, and a defined open position in which the garage door is generally horizontal and allows entry of the vehicle into the garage, comprising: rotating a lever about a pivot, the lever having an in-lever arm at a first side of the pivot, an out-lever arm at a second, opposing, side of the pivot and rotatably connected to the garage door at a load end, and a counterweight connected to the in-lever arm, wherein the counterweight provides in-force at the in-lever arm, translated as out-force at the load end of the out-lever arm, as the lever rotates about the pivot, to carry the garage door between the defined closed position to the defined open position. 
     Other features will become apparent from the drawings in conjunction with the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the figures which illustrate example embodiments, 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic top left view of a garage door carrier system in a closed state, with a garage door in a closed position, exemplary of an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic top left view of the garage door carrier system of  FIG. 1  in an open state with the garage door in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines I-I of the garage door carrier system of  FIG. 1  in the closed state; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines II-II of the garage door carrier system of  FIG. 2  in the open state; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a pivot of a lever arm of the garage door carrier system of  FIG. 3  in the closed state; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the lever arm rotatably connected to the garage door of the garage door carrier system of  FIG. 3  in the closed state; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the lever arm rotatably connected to the garage door of the garage door carrier system of  FIG. 4  in the open state; 
         FIG. 8  is a left elevation view of the lever arm and the counterweight of the garage door carrier system of  FIG. 3  in the closed state; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a lever arm, exemplary of an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the garage door carrier system transformed from the closed state of  FIG. 3  to the open state of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals in the description refer to like elements in the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic top left view of a garage door system  100  in a closed state and a garage door  20  in a closed position, exemplary of an embodiment. Garage door system  100  includes garage door carriers  10  and  10 ′.  FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a closed state of garage door system  100 , in which garage door carriers  10 ,  10 ′ position garage door  20  in an example of a closed position.  FIG. 2  is a schematic top left view of garage door carrier system  100  in an open state with garage door  20  in an open position.  FIG. 2  illustrates an example of an open state of garage door system  100 , in which garage door carriers  10 ,  10 ′ position garage door  20  in an example of an open position.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines I-I of the garage door carrier system  100 , in particular, illustrating garage door carrier  10  in the closed state.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines II-II in  FIG. 2  of garage door carrier system  100 , in particular, illustrating garage door carrier  10  in the open state. 
     The closed state of garage door carrier system  100  and garage door carrier  10 , as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , may be pre-defined as a state in which garage door  20  is in a defined closed position. In the defined closed position, garage door  20  does not permit a vehicle to pass through an opening defined by the height and width measurements of garage door  20 , for example, by not permitting a vehicle to enter a garage through the opening. The defined closed position of garage door  20  may also be defined as garage door  20  touching the floor or ground. 
     The open state of garage door carrier system  100  and garage door carrier  10 , as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , may be pre-defined as a state in which garage door  20  is in a defined open position. In the defined open position, garage door  20  permits a vehicle to pass through the opening, for example, to enter the garage. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , garage door carriers  10 ,  10 ′ are each positioned adjacent to a side of the opening, generally out of the path of a vehicle that may pass through the opening. 
     Garage door carrier  10  includes a top horizontal track  30  and an arcuate track  32  curving from a vertical section at ground level to a horizontal section adjacent top horizontal track  30 . Top horizontal track  30  and arcuate track  32  guide garage door carrier  10  between the closed state with garage door  20  in the closed position (for example, as shown in  FIG. 1 ), and the open state with garage door  20  in the defined open position (for example, as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     Garage door carrier  10  includes a lever arm  12  that rotates about a pivot  14 . An out-lever arm of lever arm  12  extends forward from pivot  14  to a load end at hinge  16 . Lever arm  12  is rotatably connected by a hinge  16  to garage door  20  at an end. An in-lever arm of lever arm  12  extends rearwardly from pivot  14  to counterweight  18 . A counterweight  18  is connected to lever arm  12 , for example, at an end opposite hinge  16 . 
     Rotation of lever arm  12  about pivot  14  rotates garage door carrier  10  between the closed state with garage door  20  in the closed position (for example, as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and the open state with garage door  20  in the open position (for example, as shown in  FIG. 2 ). Garage door  20  moves between the closed position and the open position as guided by top horizontal track  30  and arcuate track  32 , as discussed in further detail below. 
     Lever arm  12  may be formed from structural tubing, for example, a metal with a hollow tubular cross section. Lever arm  12  may be formed, for example, from steel square tubing that is rectangular in cross-section. In other embodiments, lever arm  12  may be formed of material that is circular, cylindrical, square or rectangular in cross-section. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , lever arm  12  may be extendible. Lever arm  12  may include an outer tubing member  13 A that includes a hollow cavity, sized to receive at least part of a first end of the length of an internal tubing member  13 B. Internal tubing member  13 B can slide freely lengthwise to extend and retract within the hollow cavity of outer tubing member  13 A, to extend or retract length L of lever arm  12  while in use. At a second, opposite end of internal tubing member  13 B, a tubing member  13 C is affixed. Tubing member  13 C may be the same diameter as outer tubing member  13 A and attach to hinge  16 . The length L of lever arm  12  may extend as door carrier  10  moves from the closed state to the open state, as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4  and explained in further detail below. 
     In some embodiments, the length L of lever arm  12  may be adjustable for different sized garage doors by nesting an adjustable internal tubing member within outer tubing member  13 A in a similar manner as described above in extending length L of lever arm  12 . The adjustable internal tubing member may be nested within outer tubing member  13 A on the opposite side of pivot  14  from internal tubing member  13 B. The adjustable internal tubing member may have holes that line up with holes in outer tubing member  13 A, and adjustable internal tubing member may be affixed to outer tubing member  13 A by use of a common fastener, for example, a nut and bolt received through aligned holes in the adjustable internal tubing member and outer tubing member  13 A, as would be understood by a person skilled in the art, such that length L of lever arm  12  may be adjusted and set. 
     Lever arm  12  rotates about pivot  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , pivot  14  is to the rear of where lever arm  12  connects to garage door  20 . As shown in more detail in  FIG. 5 , pivot  14  may be formed by bearings, for example, flange bearings  15 A,  15 B, affixed, for example with bolts, to lever arm  12 . A pivot pin  15 C extends through lever arm  12  and flange bearings  15 A,  15 B. Pivot pin  15 C may be a one inch diameter solid pin. Pivot pin  15 C is retained in place at each end, for example, by lock collar  15 D (only shown at one end) or a lock ring, and may be supported by a central vertical frame  44 , discussed in further detail below. 
     Hinge  16  rotatably connects lever arm  12  to garage door  20 .  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of lever arm  12  rotatably connected by hinge  16  to garage door  20  in the closed state.  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of lever arm  12  rotatably connected by hinge  16  to garage door  20  in the open state. Hinge  16  may be formed of a set of sealed bearings rigidly fixed to lever arm  12 , and sealed bearings rigidly fixed to garage door  20 , the sets of sealed bearings mated by a pin. In other embodiments, hinge  16  may be formed in other configurations that allow garage door  20  to articulate with reference to lever arm  12 . Hinge  16  is illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  as part of hinge mechanism  17 . Hinge mechanism  17  includes mounting plates  19 A,  19 B and garage door hinge  22  that is attached to mounting plates  19 A,  19 B. 
     Garage door hinge  22  articulates about an axis  21  and is affixed to mounting plate  19 A and  19 B on each side of the hinge, and supports garage door  20  as it articulates about axis  21 . 
     Garage door  20  attaches to mounting plates  19 A,  19 B. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , mounting plates  19 A,  19 B may be a generally flat steel plate, to which garage door  20  is affixed by conventional means such as nut and bolt (not shown). In other embodiments, mounting plates  19 A,  19 B may be structured as a concave channel to receive garage door  20 , and formed, for example, from square steel tubing. Mounting plates  19 A,  19 B may be, for example, between 1 and 5 inches in width, and extend part of or the complete height of garage door  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , hinge  16  is mounted adjacent to garage door hinge  22 . In some embodiments, hinge  16  may be formed integrally with garage door hinge  22 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , lever arm  12  may extend rearwardly beyond pivot  14 , to an end at which counterweight  18  is affixed, such that counterweight  18  is to the rear of pivot  14  and garage door  20 . Counterweight  18  may be affixed to lever arm  12  by nuts and bolts, as shown in  FIG. 8 . In other embodiments, counterweight  18  may be affixed to lever arm  12  by any other suitable method, as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. In other embodiments, counterweight  18  may be formed as an integral component with lever arm  12 . 
     In some embodiments, counterweight  18  may be mounted to lever arm  12  at a distance from pivot  14  that is equal to the distance between pivot  14  and hinge  16  which connects lever arm  12  to garage door  20 . 
     In some embodiments, counterweight  18  may extend from pivot  14  at a distance that is less than the distance from pivot  14  to the bottom extent of garage door carrier  10 , or the ground. 
     The shape of the counterweight  18  may be dictated by a desired location of the centre of gravity of counterweight  18  in combination with the centre of gravity of the portion of lever arm  12  that is to the rear of pivot  14 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , counterweight  18  may be v-shaped from a side view. In other embodiments, counterweight  18  may be u-shaped in side view, or straight, or in a shape that provides a desired centre of gravity. 
     Counterweight  18  may be formed from a solid object, or structural tubing with a hollow cross-section or a u-shape in cross-section. 
     In some embodiments, counterweight  18  includes an accessible hollow cavity in which weights may be placed inside, and affixed with a pin and lock through a distal end of counterweight  18 . In this way, the mass of counterweight  18  may be adjustable. In some embodiments, the mass of counterweight  18  may be a quarter of the mass of garage door  20 . As such, the ratio of the mass of counterweight  18  to the mass of garage door  20  may be, for example, 1:4. For example, counterweight  18  may have a mass of 55 pounds, and garage door  20  may have a mass of 225 pounds. 
     In some embodiments, the ratio of the mass of counterweight  18  to the mass of garage door  20  may be varied to compensate for the distance from counterweight  18  to pivot  14 , and the distance from hinge  16  (where lever arm  12  connects to garage door  20 ) to pivot  14 . For example, due to the characteristics of a lever, increasing the distance between counterweight  18  and pivot  14  may allow for the mass of counterweight  18  to be reduced. Similarly, decreasing the distance between counterweight  18  and pivot  14  may lead to an increase in the mass of counterweight  18 . The ratio of the mass of counterweight  18  to the mass of garage door  20  may also be dependent on the rotational force intended to be applied to lever arm  12  (in operation, as discussed below), as increasing the mass of counterweight  18  reduces the amount of rotational force required to rotate garage door carrier  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , counterweight  18  is mounted to lever arm  12  at an angle θ, defined as an obtuse angle between a reference axis passing through the centre of gravity “cog” of counterweight  18  and pivot  14  and a vertical axis passing through pivot  14 . 
     Counterweight  18  is mounted to lever arm  12  at an angle θ so that as garage door carrier  10  carries garage door  20  between the closed position and the open position, the “cog” of counterweight  18  may rotate through angle θ that is equal to an obtuse travel angle (illustrated as angle β in  FIG. 10 ) of the out-lever of lever arm  12  as it rotates about pivot  14  between the closed state, in which garage door  20  is in closed position, and the open state, in which garage door  20  is in the open position. 
     In some embodiments, angle θ may be greater than 90°, for example, between 90° and 180°. In some embodiments angle θ may be between 120° and 150°, for example, angle θ may be 130° as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     A mounting angle α is defined as the angle between a reference axis passing through the “cog” (the combined centre of gravity of counterweight  18  and the portion of lever arm  12  that is to the rear of pivot  14 ) and the axis of the length of lever arm  12  that extends from pivot  14  to the end of lever arm  12  to which hinge  16  is attached to rotatably connect to garage door  20 . 
     In some embodiments, the out-lever arm of lever arm  12  is horizontal to the ground and is orthogonal to garage door  20  in the closed position, and the value in degrees of (180°−α) may be the angular rotation that in-lever arm of lever arm  12  continues past vertical before reaching the open state in which garage door  20  is in open position, as the lever arm  12  rotates between the closed state and the open state, discussed in further detail below. In the open position, the centre of gravity “cog” may be aligned with a vertical axis passing through pivot  14 . 
     In some embodiments, mounting angle α may be greater than 90°, for example, between 90° and 180°. In some embodiments mounting angle α may be between 120° and 150°, in an embodiment, 140° as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     In some embodiments, angle α may equal angle θ, for example, if both angle α and angle θ are equal to 135°. 
     While lever arm  12  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4  as a straight rigid arm, in some embodiments lever arm  12  may take other shapes. For example,  FIG. 9  is a top view of a lever arm  12 ″ which extends from pivot  14  to hinge  16  in the path of an s-bend. This shape may allow for garage door carrier  10  to be positioned offset from the opening, and align hinge  16  with garage door  20 . 
     Garage door  20  may be any conventional garage door. In one example, garage door  20  may be 16 feet in width and 7 feet in height, and weigh 225 pounds. Garage door  20  shown in  FIG. 1  has four panels, and can articulate along axis  21  aligned with garage door hinge  22  between the top two and bottom two panels. In other embodiments, garage door  20  may have two panels, or any number of panels, and may bend or be hinged at multiple points along the height of the door. In other embodiments, garage door  20  may be non-standard in size and weight. 
     In some embodiments, garage door hinge  22  may form part of garage door  20 , omitting the remainder of hinge mechanism  17 , and hinge  16  may connect directly to garage door  20 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a supplementary hinge mechanism  23  may be installed at a midpoint halfway along the length of garage door  20 . Supplementary hinge mechanism  23  may articulate about axis  21 . Supplementary hinge mechanism  23  may have generally the same structure and components as hinge mechanism  17 . Supplementary hinge mechanism may support garage door  20  where sections of garage door  20  articulate. 
     In other embodiments, one or more hinge mechanisms  23  may be installed at other points along the length of garage door  20 . 
     A top roller  34 , a middle roller  36  and a bottom roller  38  are connected to garage door  20  and are in rolling engagement with top horizontal track  30  and arcuate track  32 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , garage door  20  engages with top horizontal track  30  with top roller  34 . Garage door  20  engages with arcuate track  32  with middle roller  36  and bottom roller  38 . Top roller  34 , middle roller  36  and bottom roller  38  may be ball-bearing rollers formed of nylon or steel, known to a person skilled in the art. Top horizontal track  30  and arcuate track  32  are sized to accept top roller  34 , middle roller  36  and bottom roller  38 . The width of top horizontal track  30  and arcuate track  32  may be, for example, 1 inch, 2 inches, or 3 inches. 
       FIGS. 1 to 4  illustrate garage door carrier  10  as including two tracks, namely top horizontal track  30  and arcuate track  32 . In some embodiments, garage door carrier  10  may comprise a single track, or other configurations of tracks to guide garage door  20  as it moves between a closed position and an open position. For example, top roller  34 , middle roller  36  and bottom roller  38  may engage with a single arcuate track. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , middle roller  36  may have a pin integrally formed with the pin of garage door hinge  22 . In some embodiments, middle roller  36  may have a pin that is integrally formed with the pin of hinge  16 . 
     In some embodiments, garage door carrier  10  may be supported by a frame bracket, the components including a front vertical frame (not shown), a rear vertical frame  40 , a lower horizontal frame  42 , central vertical frame  44 , a central horizontal frame  46 , and an upper horizontal frame  48 . 
     The components of the frame bracket may be formed, for example, from 1 inch by 3 inch square steel tubing. A portion of central vertical frame  44  in an embodiment can be seen in  FIG. 7 . In some embodiments, components of the frame bracket may be formed of 2 inches by 2 inches angle iron that is one eighth of an inch thick. 
     The components of the frame bracket may be formed in pairs. When formed in pairs, components of the frame bracket may have lateral reinforcements joining the pairs, for example, as shown with rear vertical frame  40  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The lateral reinforcements may be, for example, a one inch pin. Components that are formed in pairs may also, in some embodiments, be joined by a stabilizer plate, for example, a quarter inch flat bar, welded between the pair. Components that are formed in pairs may be, for example, formed of a pair of angle irons that are fastened to a piece of wood, that is for example 2 inches deep by 7 inches wide, by a wood screw or bolt. 
     Rear vertical frame  40  may attach to the rear extent of lower horizontal frame  42  and upper horizontal frame  48 . Central vertical frame  44  may provide a support for pivot pin  15 C of pivot  14 , and be formed of two pieces of square steel tubing, one on each side of lever arm  12  and flange bearings  15 A,  15 B. One or both pieces of central vertical frame  44  may attach to lower horizontal frame  42  and upper horizontal frame  48  at approximately midway the length of lower horizontal frame  42  and upper horizontal frame  48 , respectively. Central horizontal frame  46  may attach to central vertical frame  44  and rear vertical frame  40 . Front vertical frame may attach to the front extent of lower horizontal frame  42  and upper horizontal frame  48 . 
     In some embodiments, the length of components of the frame bracket may be adjustable, in a similar manner to adjustable lever arm  12 , as described above. 
     The components of the frame bracket may stabilize parts of garage door carrier  10 , including pivot  14 , as lever arm  12  moves between the closed state and the open state. 
     Sections of top horizontal track  30  and arcuate track  32  may be supported by various components of the frame bracket. For example, top horizontal track  30  may be affixed to a 2 inch by 4 inch angle bracket by a track bolt, which is in turn affixed to upper horizontal frame  48 , in some embodiments via a 2 inch by 7 inch piece of wood. 
     Any of the components of the frame bracket may be reinforced by attachment to a building or structure. For example, lower horizontal frame  42  may be affixed to the ground, for example, anchored into the ground or a floor of a garage in which garage door carrier  10  is installed. Lower horizontal frame  42  may be anchored into concrete or fastened to an anchor, as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. Any of front vertical frame (not shown), rear vertical frame  40 , upper horizontal frame  48 , central vertical frame  44 , and central horizontal frame  46  may be anchored to a garage ceiling. Any of front vertical frame (not shown), rear vertical frame  40 , lower horizontal frame  42 , upper horizontal frame  48 , central vertical frame  44 , and central horizontal frame  46  may be anchored to an adjacent wall or support structure, for example, screwed into a wall, anchored to a wall or in a wall stud, as would understood by a person skilled in the art. These attachments to a structure or ground may be fastened by a support angle or bracket, formed of, for example, steel, as would be known by a person skilled in the art. 
     The components of garage door carrier  10 , in particular, the components that move during operation, may be enclosed within a cage or screen (not shown), to limit access to the components, for example, by pedestrians in the garage and may increase the safety of the system by reducing the possibility of items being caught within moving parts. 
     Garage door carrier  10 , as bounded by the frame bracket, may require a footprint that has several (e.g., between 6 and 12, in an embodiment, 7) inches of sideroom. The headroom above garage door  20 , namely the minimum distance from the top of garage door  20  to the ceiling of the garage in which it is installed, that is required for garage door carrier  10  to operate may also be several (e.g., between 6 and 12, in an embodiment, 7) inches. 
     Garage door carrier  10 ′ is generally identical in structure and components to garage door carrier  10 , in mirror image such that the structure is reversed, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The components of garage door carrier  10 ′ include a lever arm  12 ′, a pivot  14 ′, a hinge  16 ′, a hinge mechanism  17 ′, a garage door hinge  22 ′, hinge plates  19 A′,  19 B′ a counterweight  18 ′, a top horizontal track  30 ′, an arcuate track  32 ′, a top roller (not shown), a middle roller (not shown), a bottom roller (not shown), a front vertical frame (not shown), a rear vertical frame  40 ′, a lower horizontal frame  42 ′, an upper horizontal frame  48 ′, a central vertical frame  44 ′, a central horizontal frame  46 ′. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a bottom strut  50  may attach to and extend between lower horizontal frame  42  and lower horizontal frame  42 ′ and serve to reinforce the frame brackets of each of garage door carrier  10 ,  10 ′. Bottom strut  50  may be formed of steel, adjacent to the ground. Bottom strut  50  may be, for example, a steel flat bar that is quarter inch in height and 3 inches wide. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , at a midpoint along bottom strut  50  halfway between lower horizontal frame  42  and lower horizontal frame  42 ′, an angled stop  54  may be affixed to bottom strut  50 . Angled stop  54  is oriented such that a horizontal component is affixed to bottom strut  50  and a vertical component extends vertically at a generally right angle from bottom strut  50 . Angled stop  54  may align generally with hinge mechanism  23  on garage door  20 , such that when garage door  20  is closed, angled stop  54  acts as a stop for garage door  20  at hinge mechanism  23 . As such, angled stop  54  may act to prevent garage door  20  from moving rearwardly when closed, for example, during strong winds. Angled stop  54  may be formed of an angle iron that is a quarter inch thick, 1.5 inches in width and 1.5 inches in height. 
     In other embodiments, one or more angled stops  54  may be installed at other points along the length of bottom strut  50 . 
     Similarly to bottom strut  50 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a top strut  52  may attach to and extend between upper horizontal frame  48  and upper horizontal frame  48 ′ and serve to reinforce the frame brackets of each of garage door carrier  10 ,  10 ′. Top strut  52  may be formed, for example, of angle iron. 
     In some embodiments, garage door carrier system  100  may comprise only a single garage door carrier  10  or multiple garage door carriers. One or more garage door carriers may be located to one or more sides of the opening, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or in some embodiments garage door carriers may be located at intervals across the opening. 
     Garage door carrier system  100  and garage door  20  may be installed in conjunction with a lock, as would be known to a person skilled in the art, for example, by using an electronic deadbolt to engage with garage door  20  or one of top horizontal track  30  or arcuate track  32  to inhibit movement of garage door  20  when in the closed position. 
     In use, garage door carrier system  100  and garage door carrier  10  move between the closed state and the open state, moving garage door  20  between the closed position as shown in  FIG. 1 , to the open position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , as guided by top horizontal track  30  and arcuate track  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , in operation, a force is applied to lever arm  12  to provide a moment M about pivot  14  and rotation of lever arm  12 , for example, by a motor such as an electric motor (not shown) that is mechanically connected to garage door carrier  10 . In some embodiments, moment M may be applied by a force applied at a distance along a moment arm along the length of lever arm  12 . Moment M may be operated by machinery, or manually. The operation of garage door carrier system  100  and its components may be controlled by a computerised controller (not shown). 
     As moment M is applied, lever arm  12  rotates about a generally horizontal axis formed by pivot  14  that is normal or generally orthogonal to the axis of the length of lever arm  12 . As garage door carrier  10  rotates, lever arm  12  and counterweight  18  rotate in a vertical plane, generally parallel to the plane or planes in which top roller  34 , middle roller  36  and bottom roller  38  travel as garage door  20  rotates between the closed position and the open position, and generally normal to the opening. 
     The mass of counterweight  18  applies an in-force gravitational force to the in-lever arm of lever arm  12 , which extends rearwardly from pivot  14  to counterweight  18 . This translates to an out-force at the load end of the out-lever arm of lever arm  12 , which extends from pivot  14  to the load end at hinge  16 . 
     The out-force at the load end may assist in applying force to garage door  20  as lever arm  12  rotates about the pivot, to carry garage door  20  between the defined closed position and the defined open position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , as lever arm  12  rotates between the closed state and the open state, top horizontal track  30  and arcuate track  32  guide garage door  20  between the closed position and the open position. Garage door  20  articulates at garage door hinge  22  as garage door  20  moves along top horizontal track  30  and arcuate track  32 . Reactionary forces of the top horizontal track  30  and arcuate track  32  applied to garage door  20  through top roller  34 , middle roller  36 , and bottom roller  38  reduce the force applied by garage door  20  to lever arm  12  as the garage door  20  opens. 
     The angular rotation of the axis of lever arm  12  between the closed state and the open state is shown as obtuse angle β in  FIG. 10 . As with angle θ shown in  FIG. 8 , angle β carries garage door  20  between the closed position and the open position. In some embodiments, angle α equals angle β. 
     As the garage door carrier system  100  moves from the closed state to the open state, the “cog” travels along a circular path urging carrier system  100  into a steady state at the open state. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the length of lever arm  12  extends as garage door carrier  10  reaches the open state, and may allow garage door  20  to continue along top horizontal track  30  and arcuate track  32  and garage door carrier system  100  to reach an equilibrium of forces in the open state such the force of the centre of gravity of counterweights  18  and  18 ′ equalizes forces of pivot  14  and  14 ′, garage door  20 , and gravity acting on lever arms  12  and  12 ′. As such, in the open position, garage door  20  is balanced and will remain in the open position without application of an external force. 
     Garage door carrier system  100  is primarily intended for commercial use, for example, with large underground parking doors. Garage door carrier system  100  eliminates cables, chains and springs used in a standard garage door opener (for e.g., torsion spring components). With fewer moving parts, garage door carrier system  100  may have fewer stress points than traditional garage door openers, which may result in a greater number of open and close cycles before requiring maintenance or repair, leading to less maintenance and downtime and reduced repair and maintenance costs. The reduced moving parts may also result in less skill required to install garage door carrier system  100 , and once installed, garage door carrier system  100  may be less likely to go out of balance or out of alignment. 
     Garage door carrier system  100  may also reduce the noise level of opening and closing garage door  20 . 
     It will be appreciated that the above disclosed garage door carrier system  100  may also be used in conjunction with a traditional garage door opener that is used to move garage door  20  between the closed position and the open position. 
     The above described embodiments are intended to be illustrative only and in no way limiting. The described embodiments are susceptible to many modifications of form, arrangement of parts, details and order of operation. The invention is intended to encompass all such modification within its scope, as defined by the claims.