Patent Publication Number: US-2023151689-A1

Title: Goalpost mounting assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for protecting a door frame. 
     Warehouses, distributions centers, factories, and similar facilities often have large stock handling equipment such as fork trucks which frequently move stock into, out of, and around the facility. In some examples, a piece of large stock handling equipment (e.g., a fork truck) retrieves stock from one location in a facility (e.g. from a shelf), transports the stock through the facility to a destination location (e.g., a loading dock). As the fork truck transports the stock through the facility it may pass through a number of doorways in the facility. 
     The doorways in warehouses, distribution centers, factories, and similar facilities often include shutter-type overhead roll-up doors. These doors include a motorized rolling mechanism installed above the doorway which is used to lower the door into a closed position or to retract the door into an open position. In the open, retracted position, the door is rolled onto a cylinder. Shutter tracks, which guide the shutter-type door as it is lowered and retracted, are often installed on the sides of the doorways. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is often the case that warehouses, distribution centers, factories, and similar facilities have a high amount of stock handling equipment traffic. As operators navigate through the doorways in the facility, the stock-handling equipment (e.g., trucks) may occasionally make contact with the door frames of the doorways and certain components of the shutter-type overhead roll-up doors installed thereon. In one example, a fork truck may make contact with the side of the doorway, possibly contacting and damaging the door&#39;s shutter tracks. In another example, a fork truck may have its mast deployed to an extent that it makes contact with rolled door and/or the motorized rolling mechanism, possibly causing damage to the door and/or rolling mechanism. In another example, where no shutter-type roll-up door is installed on a doorway, a fork truck may make contact and damage the top or sides of the door frame. 
     In a general aspect, a protective barrier includes a bar including an upper section having an outer dimension; a lower section having an inner dimension greater than the outer dimension of the upper section, the lower section configured to receive the upper section; and a shock absorber configured to be positioned within the lower section and around the upper section, the shock absorber having an outer dimension less than the inner dimension of the lower section and an inner dimension greater than the outer dimension of the upper section. 
     In another aspect, in general, a door frame protection system includes a first upright bar including a first upper section having a first outer dimension and a first length; a first lower section configured to receive the first upper section wherein the inner dimension of the first lower section is greater than the first outer dimension of the first upper section; a first shock absorber configured to be positioned within the first lower section and around the first upper section, the first shock absorber having an outer dimension less than the inner dimension of the first lower section and an inner dimension greater than that of the outer dimension of the first upper section; a first mounting assembly configured to secure the first lower section to a ground portion; a second upright bar including a second upper section having a second outer dimension and a second length; a second lower section configured to receive the second upper section wherein the inner dimension of the second lower section is greater than the second outer dimension of the second upper section; a second shock absorber configured to be positioned within the second lower section and around the second upper section, the second shock absorber having an outer dimension less than the inner dimension of the second lower section and an inner dimension greater than that of the outer dimension of the second upper section; a second mounting assembly configured to secure the second lower section to a ground portion; a third bar having a third outer dimension and a third length; a first coupler having an inner dimension that is greater than the first outer dimension of the first upright bar and greater than the third outer dimension of the third bar; and a second coupler having an inner dimension that is greater than the second outer dimension of the second upright bar and greater than the third outer dimension of the third bar. 
     Among other advantages, the protective barrier and the door frame protection system use a shock absorbing dampener, which absorbs impact energy. The presence of the shock absorbing damper helps mitigate damage to a door frame protected by the protective barrier and door frame protection system in the event of a collision. 
     Embodiments of these aspects of the invention may include one or more of the following features. 
     The bar may be cylindrical such that the outer and inner dimensions of the upper and lower sections, respectively, are an outer and inner diameter. 
     In further embodiments, the shock absorber may include a protruded section and a non-protruded section wherein the protruded section characterizes a protruded inner diameter and a protruded outer diameter; the protruded section includes a first pair of arcuate protuberances and a second pair of arcuate protuberances wherein the arcuate protuberances in the first pair are diametrically opposed from each other; and the arcuate protuberances in the second pair are diametrically opposed from each other; the non-protruded section characterizes a non-protruded inner diameter and a non-protruded outer diameter wherein the non-protruded outer diameter is equal to the protruded inner diameter; the outer dimension of the shock absorber is characterized by the protruded outer diameter; and the inner dimension of the shock absorber is characterized by the non-protruded inner diameter. 
     In further embodiments, the upper section of the bar includes a first receiving hole; the shock absorber includes a second receiving hole; the lower section of the bar includes a third receiving hole; and the protective barrier further includes a pin configured to be inserted through the first receiving hole, the second receiving hole, and the third receiving hole when the first, second, and third receiving holes are substantially aligned. 
     In further embodiments, the protective barrier includes a mounting assembly configured to secure the lower section to a ground portion. 
     In further embodiments, the protective barrier includes a protective cap configured to be placed around at least the lower section. Advantages of this feature include the fact that protective cap hides the receiving hole in the lower section from view. 
     In further embodiments, the protective barrier may include a coupler having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the upper section, configured to receive the upper section of the bar. 
     Embodiments of the door frame protection system may include one or more of the following features. 
     The door frame protection system may include a third bar having a third outer dimension and a third length. In further embodiments, this bar is cylindrical, and its third outer dimension is its outer diameter. 
     In further embodiments, the door frame protection system may include a first coupler which couples the first upright bar and the third bar, further utilizing a first pin to couple the first upright bar to the first coupler and a second pin to couple the third bar to the first coupler. 
     In further embodiments, the door frame protection system may include a second coupler which couples the second upright bar and the third bar, further utilizing a third pin to couple the second upright bar to the second coupler and a fourth pin to couple the third bar to the second coupler. 
     In further embodiments, the third bar is coupled between the first coupler and the second coupler. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a door frame protection system for use in warehouse setting. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the door frame protection system of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded, isometric view of a coupler for use in the door frame protection system of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is an end view of the coupler of  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  5    is cross-sectional side view of a portion of the door frame protection system including the coupler of  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of a door frame protection system that includes a shock absorption member in its anchoring system. 
         FIG.  7    is a top-down view of the anchoring system including the shock absorption member of  FIG.  6   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , a door frame protection system  10  is positioned at the entrance of a warehouse opening  100 , which may include a door  102  (e.g., a roll-up door). The warehouse opening  100  is generally located at an area of the warehouse where goods are loaded and unloaded. For example, the warehouse opening  100  allows for trucks to back up to the opening where a forklift or pallet truck (neither shown) is used to load or unload goods into and out of the truck through the warehouse opening  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , the door frame protection system  10  includes two cylindrical upright bars  12 , each of which is anchored into the ground at an anchor point  104 . Details regarding the way in which cylindrical upright bars  12  may be anchored to the ground and floor can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 9,103,163, which is incorporated herein by reference. Top ends  13  of each of the upright bars  12  are connected by a cylindrical overhead crossbar  14  using couplers  20 . Each of the cylindrical upright bars  12  includes an upper section  12   a  positioned within a lower section  12   b  in telescoping fashion to allow for the adjusting of the height of crossbar  14  relative to a mounting base  12   c.    
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , coupler  20  is T-shaped in that a first cylindrical tube  22  is transverse to a second cylindrical tube  24 . Each of first cylindrical tube  22  and second cylindrical tube  24  includes cylindrical inner passages,  22   a ,  24   a , respectively for receiving shock absorbers  26 . Inner passages  22   a ,  24   a  of first cylindrical tube  22  and second cylindrical tube  24  have inner diameters commensurate with outer diameters of the shock absorbers such that there is a relatively tight fit therebetween. Moreover, first cylindrical tube  22  and second cylindrical tube  24  have sufficient lengths for allowing upper sections  12   a  of upright bars  12  as well as end portions of overhead crossbar  14  to move therein. This allows for using upright bars and overhead crossbars with imprecise lengths. 
     In some examples, the cylindrical upright bars  12  and cylindrical overhead crossbar  14  are formed of steel, and coupler  20  is made of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE). 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , in one embodiment, shock absorbers  26  include two pairs of arcuate protuberances  28   a , 28   b ,  28   c ,  28   d . Arcuate protuberances  28   a  and  28   c  are diametrically opposed from each other. Arcuate protuberances  28   b ,  28   d  are also diametrically opposed from each other. The outer diameters of arcuate protuberances  28   a , 28   b ,  28   c ,  28   d  are slightly less than the inner diameters of first cylindrical tube  22  and second cylindrical tube  24  such that shock absorbers  26  can be positioned within first and second cylindrical tubes  22 ,  24  with a friction fit. Between each of arcuate protuberances  28   a , 28   b ,  28   c ,  28   d  are arcuate gaps  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d . Each of arcuate gaps have outer diameters which are less than the outer diameters of arcuate protuberances  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c ,  28   d . With this arrangement, shock absorbers  26  act as dampeners to absorb forces to the door frame protection system due to any impact to upright bars  12 , overhead crossbar  14 , or coupler  20  itself. For example, if a forklift were to strike one or more of the upright bars  12  or overhead crossbar  14 , that force is propagated to absorbers  26  positioned within couplers  20  where the absorbers act as spring-like resilient members. In some embodiments, shock absorbers  26  are formed of ethylene propylene diene monomer (M-class) rubber (i.e., EDPM). In other embodiments, the shock absorbers may be made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , and again to  FIG.  3   , shock absorbers  26  are held within couplers  20  with clevis pins  32 , which are positioned within holes  34  of the first and second cylindrical tubes  22 ,  24  as well as holes  36  of the arcuate protuberances  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c ,  28   d . In positioning shock absorbers  26  within the first and second cylindrical tubes  22 ,  24 , holes  34  and holes  36  are first aligned. The size of holes  36  are enlarged, relative to the size of the clevis pins  32 , to allow freedom to laterally adjust absorbers  26  with their respective cylindrical tubes. On the other hand, holes  34  are sized more closely to the size of clevis pins  32  so as to have a friction fit and secure the absorbers within the cylindrical tubes. 
     In the embodiment described above in conjunction with  FIGS.  1 - 5   , shock absorbers  26  were positioned within couplers  20 . In other embodiments, similar shock absorbers can be positioned within other parts of a door frame protection system (e.g., system  10  as described above). 
     Referring now to  FIG.  6    and  FIG.  7   , a shock absorber  626  is shown used in conjunction with a lower section  612   b  of a cylindrical upright bar  612  of a door protection system  60 . In this embodiment, and as was the case with the door frame protection system shown in  FIG.  1   , each of the cylindrical upright bars  612  includes an upper section  612   a  positioned within a lower section  612   b  in telescoping fashion to allow for the adjusting of the height of crossbar  614  relative to a mounting base  612   c.    
     Shock absorber  626  is also of a similar design as that which is shown in  FIG.  4   , the only difference being that it is properly sized for use in conjunction with the cylindrical upright bar  612  and may require different hardware for being supported within that assembly. 
     Referring specifically to  FIG.  6   , the shock absorber  626  is first positioned within the upper end of lower section  612   b . A lower end of upper section  612   a  of cylindrical upright bar is then positioned within shock absorber  626 , such that the shock absorber is positioned between the outer surface of upper section  612   a  and the inner surface of lower section  612   b . The shock absorber  626  fits snugly between the two sections utilizing a pin  627 . The pin  627  is inserted through a receiving hole  604  in the lower section  612   b  and further through holes (not shown) present in the shock absorber  626  and the upper section  612   a  when they are all sufficiently aligned, thus allowing for a fit as previously described. 
     In addition, a protective cap  612   d  is positioned around the lower section  612   b  and rests on top of a mounting base  612   c  to which the lower section  612   b  is affixed. During assembly of the door protection system  60 , the protective cap  612   d  is slid loosely around the upper section  612   a  before it is inserted into the lower section  612   b . The upper section  612   a  is then placed within the shock absorber  626  and the lower section  612   b  in the manner previously described. Upon constructing the above-described assembly in the manner set forth above, the protective cap  612   d  can be slid down from its location on the upper section  612   a  to a placement around the lower section  612   b . When placed around the lower section  612   b  in this manner, the protective cap  612   d  hides the receiving hole  604  from view. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , mounting base  612   c  is shown in this embodiment, to include five anchoring holes  614 —one located in each of its four corners, and one at a center region of the mounting base. Each anchoring hole  614  is configured to receive an anchoring bolt  616 , which in turn serves to securely fix the mounting base  612   c  to a secure, flat surface The mounting base  612   c  is further shown to have anchoring bolts  616  present in each of its anchoring holes  614  (anchoring holes  614  not visible from this perspective). Note that in this view, the position of shock absorber  626  is shown as fitting snugly within the lower section  612   b  so as to allow for a fit in the manner described above, utilizing pin  627 . 
     Alternatives 
     In some examples in the embodiments described above, the cylindrical upright bars  12 ,  612 , cylindrical overhead crossbar  14 , and coupler  20  are made from an HDPE material having a high visibility color (e.g. yellow). In some examples, the cylindrical upright bars  12 , cylindrical overhead crossbar  14 , and coupler  20  are colored with an alternating pattern of black and a high visibility color (e.g., horizontally striped). 
     In some examples where the upright bars and the overhead crossbar are made of metal (e.g., steel), the upright bars and the overhead crossbar are painted with a high visibility paint color (e.g., yellow). In other examples, the upright bars and the overhead crossbar may be made from an HDPE material having a high visibility color. 
     In some examples, the bolts used to anchor the upright bars to the ground are secured into the ground using an epoxy resin anchor foundation. 
     It is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.