Patent ID: 7178197

Claim:
A guard assembly for use with a sectional garage door, the sectional garage door includes a plurality of sectional panels connected by garage door hinges, each hinge is comprised of a first hinge plate attached to one of the sectional panels with a first attachment, a second hinge plate attached to an adjoining sectional panel with a second attachment, a hinge knuckle extending upwards from the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate, and a hinge shaft mounted within the hinge knuckle, the hinge shaft rotatably joining the first hinge plate to the second hinge plate, the guard assembly comprising: a first guard element comprising: a first shaft engagement end configured to rotatably engage the hinge shaft, said first shaft engagement end having a first shaft engagement upper surface configured to protrude beyond the hinge knuckle when said first guard element is attached to the hinge shaft, said first shaft engagement end positioned entirely between the hinge knuckle; a first plate engagement end adapted to engage the first hinge plate; and a first transition body portion positioned between said first shaft engagement end and said first plate engagement end; and a second guard element comprising: a second shaft engagement end configured to rotatably engage the hinge shaft, said second shaft engagement end having a second shaft engagement upper surface configured to protrude beyond the hinge knuckle when said second guard element is attached to the hinge shaft; a second plate engagement end adapted to engage the second hinge plate; and a second transition body portion positioned between said second shaft engagement end and said second plate engagement end; wherein said second guard element rotates independently from said first guard element.