Abstract:
Disclosed is a door ( 2 ) comprising a door leaf ( 1 ) and a door operator ( 10 ) for motorized operation of the door leaf ( 1 ) as well as an ID controlling and actuating means ( 12, 52 ) for mounting outside from the zone to be closed off, by means of which following or during implementation of an ID check an authorized user can enable the door operator ( 10 ) for the purpose of opening the door ( 2 ). Preferably to save, in an easy way time, material and money it is proposed in accordance with the invention to mount the ID controlling and actuating means ( 12, 52 ) on or in the door leaf ( 1 ) for movement therewith. In addition, the invention relates to a method of fabricating, furnishing and/or fitting such a door ( 2 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a door comprising a door leaf and a door operator for motorized operation of the door leaf as well as including an ID controlling and actuating means to be fitted outside of the zone to be closed off. In addition, the invention relates to a method of fabricating, furnishing and/or fitting such a door.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A preferred objective of the invention is to save, in an easy way, time, material and money where such doors or methods are concerned.  
           [0003]    Preferably this objective is achieved by a door ( 2 ) comprising a door leaf ( 1 ) and a door operator ( 10 ) for motorized operation of the door leaf ( 1 ) as well as including an ID controlling and actuating means ( 12 ,  52 ) to be fitted outside of the zone to be closed off, by means of which an authorized user after being checked out for correct ID is able to actuate the door operator  10  for the purpose of opening the door ( 2 ), wherein the ID controlling and actuating means ( 12 ,  52 ) is mounted on or in the door leaf ( 1 ) for moving therewith.  
           [0004]    Preferably, this objective is achieved by a method for fabricating, furnishing and/or fitting a door comprising the steps:  
           [0005]    a) providing a door leaf ( 1 ) with an opening ( 40 ) suitable for mounting both a door lock ( 4 ) on the door leaf ( 1 ) and an ID controlling and actuating means ( 12 ,  52 ) on or in the door leaf ( 1 ), and providing a door frame ( 60 ) or members likewise to be secured fixed in place for securing and/or guiding the door  
           [0006]    b) providing a mechanical bolting device ( 3 ) including a door lock ( 4 ) and corresponding manually operated bolting elements ( 3 ′) or a door operator assembly having a door operator ( 10 ) and an ID controlling and actuating means ( 12 ,  52 ) for enabling the door operator ( 10 ) for the purpose of opening the door ( 2 ) by means of an authorized user following or on implementation of an ID or authorization interrogation,  
           [0007]    c) deciding whether the door ( 2 ) is to be operated manually or automatically,  
           [0008]    d1) fitting the bolting device with the door lock ( 4  ) in the door leaf opening ( 40 ) and furnishing the door leaf ( 1 ) and the door members to be secured fixed—such as the door frame ( 60 )—to the site, when the door ( 2 ) is to be operated manually, fitting the bolting device also being possible after furnishing to site,  
           [0009]    or  
           [0010]    d2) fitting the ID controlling and actuating means ( 12 ,  52 ) in the door leaf opening ( 40 ) and furnishing the door leaf ( 1 ), the door frame ( 60 ) or door members to be secured fixed and the door operator ( 10 ) to the site when the door ( 2 ) is to be operated automatically, fitting the ID controlling and actuating means ( 12 ,  52 ) also being possible after furnishing to site  
           [0011]    and  
           [0012]    e) fitting the furnished door parts on site.  
           [0013]    Additional preferred advantageous aspects of the invention are also disclosed by the present specification.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    The invention will now be detailed by way of an example embodiment with reference to the attached drawing in which:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is an outer view of a door in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is an inner view of a door leaf in accordance with prior art;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is an outer view of the door leaf as shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is an inner view of a door leaf in a producing stage or producing step prior to the finished door in accordance with the invention as shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is an inner view in perspective of a first embodiment of the door in accordance with the invention; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is an inner view in perspective of a second embodiment of the door in accordance with the invention 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 there is illustrated a garage door leaf  1  of a usual door  2 .  
         [0022]    Most garage doors  2  are furnished or fitted nowadays with a door operator. When, however, a door is provided with a door operator, the mechanical bolting mechanisms  3  not required for powered operation need to be disabled, this involving more particularly the bolting mechanisms  3 ′ of the door lock  4 .  
         [0023]    This means that the majority of the bolting mechanisms  3 ′ required for exclusive manual operation of the door  2  are not needed at all, resulting in them having to be removed and disposed of—all a waste of time, material and money.  
         [0024]    It thus makes much more sense to employ or fit these bolting mechanisms  3 ′ only when it is certain that the door is intended exclusively for manual operation.  
         [0025]    Omitting the bolting mechanisms  3 ′ in conjunction with operation of the door by a door operator as described in the following is not intended to mean the mechanisms which are mandatory for emergency cases to open and close a door  2  from without and within, but merely the mechanisms as become superfluous by application of a door operator which as a rule is the door lock  4  with the mechanism connected thereto.  
         [0026]    For doors including a door operator and the aforementioned bolting mechanisms  3 ′ accordingly omitted it thus needs to be assured by consequence that the door  2  can be opened externally without additional installations  5 —this being the key switch usually required extra in the brickwork alongside the door—to at least equate it to operating the door exclusively by manual operation.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5 there is illustrated the solution as preferred in this case substantially based on a door operator  10  usually being equipped with remote control permitting the door  2  to be opened and closed from without and within by radio (wireless) means, although, of course, a hardwired achievement—as shown in FIG. 6—is just as possible and practical.  
       Solution 1—Preferred Embodiment as Shown in FIGS.  1  and  5   
       [0028]    a) In the door leaf  1 —preferably, of course, at the location where the door lock  4  with its associated mechanism  3  is fitted in exclusive manual operation of the door  2 —a radio keypad controller  12 , simply termed RKC  12  in the following, is fitted.  
         [0029]    b) This RKC  12  comprises a transmitter  14  for wireless signalling a receiver  16  which in turn actuates the door operator  10 .  
         [0030]    c) On the outer side  24  of the door—FIG. 1—this RKC  12  includes a keypad  18  with which one or more key strike sequence(s) known specifically only to the user can be entered for emitting the transmission signal  20  for actuating the door operator  10 . However, just as possible and practical are embodiments (not shown) in which the transmission signal  20  is activated by a mechanical or electronic key (e.g. transponder) or finger print sensors.  
         [0031]    d) On the inner side  26  of the door—FIG. 5—i.e. in the zone to which non-authorized access is prevented—this RKC  12  has operation means (keys  28 , switches or the like) permitting the user to “teach” the aforementioned key strikes or aforementioned electronic keys for enabling the aforementioned transmission signal in the RKC  12 . It further being possible to also permit direct activation by these user operation means  28  of the aforementioned transmission signal  20  for actuating the door operator  10 .  
         [0032]    e) In accordance with further embodiments (not shown) it is also possible to wireless activate with this RKC  12  one or more extra functions by further receivers both directly and indirectly (following a key strike sequence or key) such as, for example, enabling patio lighting, a bell or an actuator in the vicinity.  
         [0033]    f) This RKC  12  is energized battery or accumulator powered; although it is just as possible and practical to charge a rechargeable battery internal to the RKC  12  via solar cells  30  (either integrated in the RKC  12 , or separately) on the outer side  24  of the door to permit operation in the dark.  
         [0034]    g) It is likewise just as possible and practical to render the keypad  18  of the RKC  12  on the outer side  24  of the door illuminated, enabled e.g. by the first key strike in the dark and automatically disabled after a delay following the last key strike, to save energy.  
         [0035]    This solution has the following advantages:  
         [0036]    When it is known in fabrication of the door  2  that the door  2  is to be fitted with a door operator  10  including a receiver  16  the RKC  12  as described above is installed instead of the door lock  4  with the connected mechanism  3  or a trim plate—see FIG. 4 showing a door leaf blank with an opening  40  in the lock site. This opening  40  is closed off either by the door lock  4 , by the RKC  12  or by a trim plate.  
         [0037]    The wireless aspect of this embodiment eliminates the need to additionally wire the RKC  12  to the door operator  10 .  
         [0038]    Due to the achievement being integrated in the door leaf  1  and due to the wirelessness, no keypad  5  or inside keypads need to be installed for opening the door  2  from without or within, involving additional fitting and wiring complications. Closing the door (when the door is open the keypad of the RKC  12  on the outer side of the door is not accessible and the controls of the RKC  12  on the inside of the door not easily accessible) is preferably done by the handheld transmitter provided in any case or by an inner keypad connected to the door operator or to a separate housing of a door operator controller (not shown). As an alternative or in addition thereto, a timer switch may be provided for door closing.  
       Solution 2—Alternative Embodiment (FIGS.  1  and  6 )  
       [0039]    In this aspect the components of the RKC  12  are eliminated permitting wireless activation of the door operator  10  therefrom. Instead, there is now provided a lead  50  from the controller, now termed keypad controller (KC)  52 , in the door leaf  1  to the door operator  10  or a dedicated electronic analyzer in the zone to which unauthorized access is prevented for ultimately enabling the door operator. This achievement is characterized by:  
         [0040]    a) In the door leaf  1  a wired keypad controller  52 , simply termed KC  52  in the following, is fitted, preferably sited where the door lock  4  with the mechanism connected thereto is normally located for exclusive manual operation of the door  2 .  
         [0041]    b) This KC  52  is wired by a lead  50  to the door operator  10  or to a dedicated electronic analyzer (not shown) in the zone to which unauthorized access is prevented for ultimately enabling the door operator.  
         [0042]    c) On the outer side  24  of the door—FIG. 1—this KC  52  includes a keypad  18  with which one or more key strike sequence(s) known specifically only to the user can be entered for emitting the signal  20  for actuating the door operator  10 . However, just as possible and practical are embodiments (not shown) in which this signal  20  is activated by a mechanical or electronic key (e.g. transponder).  
         [0043]    d) In the zone to which non-authorized access is prevented which may be on the KC  52  (on the inner side  26  of the door) itself, on the door operator  10  or on an electronic analyzer associated therewith—operation means (keys  28 , switches or the like) are provided, enabling the user to “teach” the aforementioned key strikes or aforementioned electronic keys for enabling the aforementioned activating the door operator signal. It furthermore being possible to directly enable by these user operation means the aforementioned signal for actuating the door operator.  
         [0044]    e) It is also possible with this KC  52  to enable one or more extra functions on the door operator  10  or electronic analyzer both directly and indirectly (following a key strike sequence or key) such as, for example, actuating patio lighting, a bell or actuator in the vicinity.  
         [0045]    f) Due to this wired solution the KC  52  itself requires no power supply such as a battery or accumulator, since it can also be powered via the door operator  10  or analyzer.  
         [0046]    g) It is likewise just as possible and practical to render the keypad of the KC  52  on the outer side  24  of the door illuminated, enabled e.g. by the first key strike in the dark and automatically disabled after a delay following the last key strike, to save energy.  
         [0047]    This solution has the following advantages:  
         [0048]    When it is known in fabrication of the door  2  that the door  2  is to be fitted with a door operator  10  (not necessarily involving a receiver) the KC  52  as described above including the prepared lead  50  is fitted instead of the door lock  4  with the connected mechanism  3  or a trim plate.  
         [0049]    This wired solution eliminates batteries needing to be replaced or recharged.  
         [0050]    Due to the solution being integrated in the door leaf  1  no keypads  5  or inside keypads need to be installed for opening the door  2  from without or within involving additional fitting and wiring complications. Closing the door (when the door is open the keypad of the KC  52  on the outer side of the door is non-accessible and the controls of the KC  52  on the inside of the door not easily accessible) is preferably done by the handheld transmitter provided in any case or by an inner keypad connected to the door operator or by a timer switch.