Patent ID: 7814957

Claim:
A multi-panel door and door support assembly for a building structure defining an opening for a door with a header above the opening, comprising: a horizontal support member positioned proximate to and substantially along the length of the header; the horizontal member comprises a truss having a plurality of interconnected horizontal members, wherein the upper panel of the multi-panel door is pivotally coupled to one of the horizontal members; a multi-panel door having at least an upper panel directly pivotally coupled to the horizontal member defining an upper panel pivot axis and a lower panel pivotally coupled to the upper panel defining a lower panel pivot axis; guide rails positioned along sides of the door opening for operatively engaging side edges of the upper and lower panels; guides coupled to at least the lower panel and operatively engaging the guide rails to control a path of travel of at least an end of the lower panel; and a control assembly including a hydraulic cylinder and a piston rod slidably mounted in the cylinder for movement between a retracted and extended position and having a longitudinal axis, wherein a first end of the cylinder assembly is pivotally secured to the truss and a second end of the control assembly is directly pivotally secured to either the upper or lower panel proximate the lower panel pivot axis defining a control assembly/panel pivot axis, to control the movement of the multi-panel door between an open position and a closed position upon movement of the cylinder rod between its extended and retracted positions; the truss having channels between the horizontal members, wherein the piston rod and cylinder travel in the channels as the mutli-paneled door travels between the open and closed positions.