Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9863179B2/en
Timestamp: 2018-11-15 00:02:03
Document Index: 463599297

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 61', 'Application No. 11183864', 'Application No. 11183873', 'Application No. 17156394', 'Application No. 15199961', 'Application No. 11183873']

US9863179B2 - Sensing edge - Google Patents
US9863179B2
US9863179B2 US14747308 US201514747308A US9863179B2 US 9863179 B2 US9863179 B2 US 9863179B2 US 14747308 US14747308 US 14747308 US 201514747308 A US201514747308 A US 201514747308A US 9863179 B2 US9863179 B2 US 9863179B2
US14747308
US20150315835A1 (en )
This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 14/477,294, filed Sep. 4, 2014, entitled “Sensing Edge,” which is a divisional of U.S. Pat. No. 8,832,996, issued on Sep. 16, 2014, entitled “Sensing Edge,” which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/389,867, filed Oct. 5, 2010, entitled “Sensing Edge with T-Bar End Flap,” the contents of both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a sensing edge 10 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present application includes an elongated sheath 12, a first end plug 14, and a first end flap 22. The sensing edge 10 is preferably mounted to a door, gate or other structure 9 that opens and/or closes upon actuation by a user. The door 9 is typically driven to open or close by a driving motor (not shown) upon remote actuation by the user. The door 9 may be comprised of a garage door 9, a gate 9 or nearly any door or structure that opens and/or closes based upon actuation by the user. The sensing edge 10 is preferably mounted to the door 9 to provide a signal to a controller (not shown) indicating that an edge, preferably a forward edge 9 a of the door 9 is obstructed during operation. The sensing edge 10 preferably prevents the door 9 from damaging an object that obstructs the opening and/or closing path of the door 9 by sensing the object when the sensing edge 10 comes into contact with the object during use. Accordingly, the sensing edge 10 is preferably mounted to an edge 9 a of the door 9 that may come into contact with an object during opening and/or closing. For example, the sensing edge 10 may be mounted to the bottom or forward edge 9 a of a garage door 9 such that the sensing edge 10 comes into contact with objects or people that may obstruct the opening and/or closing of the door 9, as would be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art. The sensing edge 10 is not limited to being mounted to the bottom or forward edge of the door 9 and may be mounted to a side edge of the door 9, particularly for a door 9 that opens or closes by travelling laterally on a track (not shown), as opposed to a traditional garage door 9 that generally opens and closes along a generally vertical path. Accordingly, the sensing edge 10 is preferably mounted to the door 9 along an edge where it may come into contact with an object during the opening and/or closing operations, which may be described as the forward edge 9 a of the door 9.
In the first preferred embodiment, the elongated sheath 12 is relatively hollow between the first and second ends 16, 18. The elongated sheath 12 is not limited to being hollow between the first and second ends 16, 18 and may be relatively solid or may have a variety of structures between the first and second ends 16, 18 depending upon design considerations of the preferred sensing edge 10. The elongated sheath 12 of the first preferred embodiments includes an outer wall 12 a and first, second and third ribs 13 a, 13 b, 13 c extending from the first end 16 to the second end 18. The outer wall 12 a and first, second and third ribs 13 a, 13 b, 13 c define first, second, third and fourth voids 11 a, 11 b, 11 c, 11 d at least at the first and second ends 16, 18. The first, second and third ribs 13 a, 13 b, 13 c provide a stiffness to the elongated sheath 12 to retain the general shape of the sheath 12 and to transmit forces to sensors (not shown) associated, with the sheath 12. The first, second and third ribs 13 a, 13 b, 13 c are preferably co-molded or co-extruded with the outer wall 12 a to form the sheath 12. The sheath 12 is not limited to inclusion of the outer wall 12 a and first, second and third ribs 13 a, 13 b, 13 c and may be otherwise constructed. For example, the elongated sheath 12 may be constructed without inclusion of the first, second and third ribs 13 a, 13 b, 13 c such that the elongated sheath 12 is hollow between the first and second ends 16, 18 and the outer wall 12 a defines a single void (not shown) therein. However, the first, second and third ribs 13 a, 13 b, 13 c are preferred to provide strength and stiffness to the elongated sheath 12 to assist in retaining the preferred shape of the sheath 12 and to transmit forces to sensors within the sheath 12 when the sheath 12 impacts an object during opening or closing of the door 9.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first body 30 of the first end flap 22 has a body length L and a body height H. The body length L is at least approximately two inches (2″) and the body height H is at least approximately one and one-half inches (1½). The first end flap 22 is not limited to the described dimensions for the body height H and body length L and may be configured in nearly any manner and to have nearly any size to block an opening between the first end plug 14 and the wall or structure (not shown) adjacent the door 9 to limit light, wind, air, animals or other objects from moving into the structure through the opening or hole between the door 9 in a wall. In addition, the body 30 of the first end flap 22 may be manipulated by the end user to have nearly any size or shape as a result of its relatively flat, thin construction of rubber-like material. For example, the user may cut or shape the body 30 for optimum positioning in blocking the hole.
Referring to FIG. 2, in the first preferred embodiment, the electrical wire 82 is connected to the controller (not shown) that receives a signal from sensors (not shown) associated with the sensing edge 10. The sensors preferably indicate when the forward edge 9 a of the door 9 is obstructed during operation. The controller may be mounted separately from the sensing edge 10 or may be mounted on or in components of the sensing edge 10 of the first preferred embodiment. For example, the controller may be mounted within the first or second end plugs 14, 15 for receiving signals from the sensors and directing and controlling operation of the door 9. The electrical wire 82 preferably provides power to the controller 100 and carries signals from the sensor to the controller as well as to the motor (not shown) that drives movement of the door 9. The controller may control various functionality of the door 9, but at least receives signals from the sensors to prevent the door 9 or an object that is impacted by the sensing edge 12 during opening or closing of the door 9 from being damaged.
an elongate flexible sheath mounted to the forward edge, the flexible sheath comprising:
a flexible outer wall, a first end of the flexible outer wall defining a first cavity;
first, second and third ribs co-molded with the flexible outer wall and extending within the flexible sheath from the first end to a second end of the flexible outer wall;
the flexible outer wall and the first, second and third ribs defining first, second, third and fourth voids at least at the first and second ends;
a first end plug including an inner end, an outer end, first engaging structures extending from the inner end and a first vertical groove in the outer end, the first engaging structures being in a stationary position within the first cavity, attaching the first end plug to the flexible outer wall in an assembled and operative configuration; and
a first end flap including a relatively flat and solid first body and a first flange structure, the first flange structure positioned in the first vertical groove in the assembled configuration to secure the first end flap to the first end plug.
2. The sensing edge of claim 1, wherein the first engaging structures include a first projection, a second projection, a third projection and a fourth projection, the first projection positioned within the first void, the second projection positioned within the second void, the third projection positioned within the third void and the fourth projection positioned within the fourth void in the assembled configuration.
US14747308 2010-10-05 2015-06-23 Sensing edge Active US9863179B2 (en)
US38986710 true 2010-10-05 2010-10-05
US13247425 US8832996B2 (en) 2010-10-05 2011-09-28 Sensing edge
US14477294 US9091108B2 (en) 2010-10-05 2014-09-04 Sensing edge
US14747308 US9863179B2 (en) 2010-10-05 2015-06-23 Sensing edge
US15044279 US20160160552A1 (en) 2010-10-05 2016-02-16 Sensing edge
US14477294 Division US9091108B2 (en) 2010-10-05 2014-09-04 Sensing edge
US15044279 Continuation-In-Part US20160160552A1 (en) 2010-10-05 2016-02-16 Sensing edge
US20150315835A1 true US20150315835A1 (en) 2015-11-05
US9863179B2 true US9863179B2 (en) 2018-01-09
US13247425 Active 2031-10-26 US8832996B2 (en) 2010-10-05 2011-09-28 Sensing edge
US14477294 Active US9091108B2 (en) 2010-10-05 2014-09-04 Sensing edge
US14747308 Active US9863179B2 (en) 2010-10-05 2015-06-23 Sensing edge
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