PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10876347-B2
Application Number: US-201615197363-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Rotating door systems and methods

Abstract:
Rotating door systems and methods for rotating a plurality of rotatable doors between a closed position and an open position are provided. Each of the rotatable doors may have a height measured in a vertical direction between opposing horizontal edges, a width measured in a horizontal direction between opposing vertical edges, and an axis of rotation centrally located between the opposing vertical edges. The rotatable doors may be rotatably coupled to an upper support at the axis of rotation via an upper pivot shaft and rotatably coupled to a lower support at the axis of rotation via a lower pivot shaft. The rotatable doors may be at least partially transparent. The rotation of one or more of the rotatable doors may be controlled by a controller.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotating door system, comprising:
 rotatable doors configured to rotate between a closed position and an open position, each respective rotatable door comprising a transparent panel, the transparent panel comprising:
 a height measured in a vertical direction between opposing horizontal edges, 
 a width measured in a horizontal direction between opposing vertical edges, and 
 an axis of rotation centrally located between the opposing vertical edges of the transparent panel, 
 
 wherein each of the rotatable doors is rotatably coupled to an upper support at the axis of rotation via an upper pivot shaft and rotatably coupled to a lower support at the axis of rotation via a lower pivot shaft, 
 wherein the axis of rotation of each rotatable door is fixed relative to the upper support and the lower support, and 
 wherein the rotatable doors do not overlap and are aligned in same plane in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       2. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , wherein, when rotating between the closed position and the open position, the rotatable doors automatically rotate at one or both of: the same time and the same speed. 
     
     
       3. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , wherein, when rotating between the closed position and the open position, each of the rotatable doors automatically rotates at a variable speed between the closed position and the open position,
 wherein the speed of rotation increases as the rotatable doors rotate away from the closed position, reaches a maximum between the closed position and the open position, and decreases as the rotatable doors approach the open position. 
 
     
     
       4. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , wherein, when rotating between the closed position and the open position, a first of the rotatable doors automatically rotates clockwise and a second of the rotatable doors automatically rotates counter-clockwise. 
     
     
       5. The rotating door system of  claim 4 , wherein the first rotatable door is located immediately adjacent to the second rotatable door. 
     
     
       6. The rotating door system of  claim 4 , wherein the first rotatable door and the second rotatable door rotate simultaneously. 
     
     
       7. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , wherein respective rotatable doors immediately adjacent to each other are spaced apart in the closed position. 
     
     
       8. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , wherein the height of each respective transparent panel is at least 8 feet and the width of each respective transparent panel is at least 6 feet. 
     
     
       9. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , wherein each respective rotatable door comprises a peripheral border, the peripheral border defining the horizontal edges, the vertical edges, and a border around the periphery of front and rear surfaces of the rotatable door. 
     
     
       10. The rotating door system of  claim 9 , wherein the upper pivot shaft and the lower pivot shaft of each rotatable door are coupled to the peripheral border of the rotatable door. 
     
     
       11. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors. 
     
     
       12. The rotating door system of  claim 11 , further comprising a sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors based on signals received from the sensor. 
     
     
       13. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 gear assemblies, each respective gear assembly coupled to the upper pivot shaft or the lower pivot shaft of one of the rotatable doors; 
 actuators, each respective actuator coupled to and configured to rotate one of the gear assemblies; and 
 a controller configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors by operating the actuators. 
 
     
     
       14. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , wherein each respective rotatable door comprises a separate lower support assembly comprising a plate that is fixed relative to the lower support and that rotatably supports the lower pivot shaft of the rotatable door at its axis of rotation. 
     
     
       15. The rotating door system of  claim 14 , wherein the lower support is a floor, and wherein each respective lower support assembly is directly coupled to the floor. 
     
     
       16. The rotating door system of  claim 14 , wherein the lower support is a floor, and wherein at least a portion of each respective lower support assembly is disposed within a respective recess in the floor. 
     
     
       17. The rotating door system of  claim 14 , wherein the separate lower support assembly comprises:
 a first plate comprising a lower pivot shaft support, and 
 a second plate secured to the first plate and comprising one or more alignment mechanisms for adjusting the position of the first plate relative to the second plate in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotatable door. 
 
     
     
       18. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable doors are not coupled to the lower support and the upper support by a frame. 
     
     
       19. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , wherein each respective rotatable door comprises a separate upper support assembly comprising a plate that is fixed relative to the upper support and that rotatably supports the upper pivot shaft of the rotatable door at its axis of rotation. 
     
     
       20. The rotating door system of  claim 19 , wherein the upper support is a ceiling, and wherein each respective upper support assembly is directly coupled to the ceiling. 
     
     
       21. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent panel defines at least 90% of a front surface area or a rear surface area of the rotatable door. 
     
     
       22. The rotating door system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable doors are configured to close an opening defined by a ceiling, a floor, and side walls of a storefront when the rotatable doors are in the closed position,
 wherein one of the horizontal edges of each rotatable door is configured to be disposed immediately adjacent the ceiling and the other one of the horizontal edges of each rotatable door is configured to be disposed immediately adjacent the floor when the rotatable doors are in the closed position, and 
 wherein one of the vertical edges of each rotatable door is configured to be disposed immediately adjacent to one of the vertical edges of another door in the rotating door system when the rotatable doors are in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       23. A store, comprising;
 a floor; 
 a ceiling; and 
 a storefront comprising the rotating door system of  claim 1 , wherein the axis of rotation of each rotatable door is fixed relative to the storefront. 
 
     
     
       24. The store of  claim 23 , further comprising a controller configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors between the closed position and the open position. 
     
     
       25. The store of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a controller configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors between the closed position and the open position; and 
 a sensor in communication with the controller; 
 wherein the controller is configured to prevent or stop rotation of one or more of the rotatable doors in response to receiving a signal from the sensor. 
 
     
     
       26. The store of  claim 23 , further comprising a controller configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors between the closed position and the open position, wherein the controller is configured to rotate each door having an axis of rotation located to the right of a center of the storefront in a first rotational direction and to rotate each door having an axis of rotation located to the left of the center of the storefront in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, the right and left being relative to a point of view from outside the store. 
     
     
       27. The store of  claim 26 , wherein the first rotational direction is clockwise viewed from above, and the second rotational direction is counter-clockwise viewed from above. 
     
     
       28. A rotating door system, comprising:
 an upper support; 
 a lower support; 
 four rotatable doors, each respective rotatable door comprising: a transparent panel and a vertical axis of rotation extending centrally within the transparent panel; and 
 a controller configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors about their respective vertical axes of rotation between a closed position and an open position, 
 wherein the axis of rotation of each rotatable door is fixed during rotation of the rotatable doors, 
 wherein the four rotatable doors are disposed side-by-side in the closed position, 
 wherein vertical edges of respective adjacent rotatable doors are spaced apart from each other and do not overlap when the four rotatable doors are in the closed position, and 
 wherein the controller is configured rotate a left-most two rotatable doors of the rotatable doors in a first rotational direction and is configured to rotate a right-most two rotatable doors of the rotatable doors in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. 
 
     
     
       29. The rotating door system of  claim 28 , wherein vertical edges of respective adjacent rotatable doors are disposed immediately adjacent to each other when the four rotatable doors are in the closed position. 
     
     
       30. The rotating door system of  claim 28 , wherein the four rotatable doors are configured to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise. 
     
     
       31. The rotating door system of  claim 28 , wherein each respective rotatable door comprises a separate actuator controllable by the controller to rotate the rotatable doors about their respective axes of rotation. 
     
     
       32. A storefront having an opening defined by a ceiling, a floor, and side walls, the storefront comprising:
 a door system that occupies the opening, the door system comprising:
 rotatable doors that rotate between an open position and a closed position, the rotatable doors being positioned side-by-side and in-line with one another when in the closed position such that the rotatable doors prevent access through the opening, and the rotatable doors being positioned parallel one another when in the open position such that the rotatable doors allow access through the opening, 
 
 wherein each of the rotatable doors comprises a centrally located axis of rotation that is at a fixed location within the opening and that is defined by: an upper pivot point positioned relative to the ceiling and a lower pivot point positioned relative to the floor, 
 wherein each of the rotatable doors is configured to rotate about its respective centrally located axis of rotation between the closed position and the open position, 
 wherein each of the rotatable doors comprises a top horizontal edge disposed immediately adjacent the ceiling and a bottom horizontal edge disposed immediately adjacent the floor when the rotatable doors are in the closed position, 
 wherein each of the rotatable doors comprises a transparent panel extending continuously between the horizontal edges and the vertical edges of the rotatable door, and 
 wherein two of the rotatable doors each comprises: a first vertical edge disposed immediately adjacent to a vertical edge of another one of the rotatable doors when the rotatable doors are in the closed position, and a second vertical edge disposed immediately adjacent to a side wall of the storefront when the rotatable doors are in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       33. The storefront of  claim 32 , wherein each adjacent pair of the rotatable doors defines a walkway when the adjacent pair of the rotatable doors is in the open position. 
     
     
       34. The storefront of  claim 32 , wherein the entranceway comprises a horizontal center, wherein respective rotatable doors having an axis of rotation located to the left of the horizontal center are configured to rotate in a first rotational direction, and wherein respective rotatable doors having an axis of rotation located to the right of the horizontal center are configured to rotate in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. 
     
     
       35. The storefront of  claim 32 , wherein the rotatable doors span across at least 75% of the storefront when the rotatable doors are in the closed position. 
     
     
       36. The rotating door system of  claim 32 , wherein the transparent panel defines at least 90% of a front surface area or a rear surface area of the rotatable door. 
     
     
       37. The rotating door system of  claim 32 , wherein each rotatable door of the rotatable doors comprises a peripheral border, and the peripheral border defines the horizontal edges and the vertical edges of the rotatable door.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/187,746, filed on Jul. 1, 2015, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to rotating door systems and methods. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to rotating door systems and methods for opening and closing a doorway, for example, a storefront. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A business owner (e.g., a retailer) may desire a way of allowing individuals to enter a building (e.g., a store). 
     SUMMARY 
     A business owner (e.g., a retailer) may wish to invite individuals (e.g., customers) into a building or establishment (e.g., a store) in an aesthetically appealing and inviting way. At the same time, the business owner may wish to prevent entry into the building during specific times of the day (e.g., when the building is closed for business). To do this, the business owner may employ one or more rotatable doors to allow individuals to enter the building at certain times and prevent entry during other times. 
     An aesthetically appealing and inviting doorway for a building or establishment may be an important tool for attracting business. For example, an aesthetically appealing and inviting storefront for a retail store may, among other things, be an important tool for attracting customers to the store. An aesthetically appealing an inviting storefront may encourage new customers to visit the store, create brand recognition, increase customer awareness of the store, and/or encourage repeat customers to visit the store. Moreover, a storefront that is aesthetically appealing even when the store is closed may be an important tool for enticing new and repeat customers to visit the store and creating brand recognition. In some cases, a storefront that allows customers to view the interior of store when the store is closed increases customer awareness of the products for sale within the store. 
     Moreover, controlling the time and manner in which individuals enter a building may be desirable for crowd control. In some instances, automatic control of the time and manner in which individuals enter a building may be desirable. 
     To accomplish these and other objectives, the business owner may use a rotating door system and/or method, or elements thereof, according to embodiments described herein. 
     Some embodiments are directed towards a rotating door system. In some embodiments, the rotating door system may include a plurality of rotatable doors configured to rotate between a closed position and an open position, each of the rotatable doors having a height measured in a vertical direction between opposing horizontal edges, a width measured in a horizontal direction between opposing vertical edges, and an axis of rotation centrally located between the opposing vertical edges. In some embodiments, each of the rotatable doors may be rotatably coupled to an upper support at the axis of rotation via an upper pivot shaft and rotatably coupled to a lower support at the axis of rotation via a lower pivot shaft. In some embodiments, at least a portion of each of the rotatable doors may be transparent. 
     In some embodiments, when rotating between the closed position and the open position, the rotatable doors may automatically rotate at the same time. In some embodiments, when rotating between the closed position and the open position, the rotatable doors may automatically rotate at the same speed. In some embodiments, when rotating between the closed position and the open position, each of the plurality of rotatable doors may automatically rotate at a variable speed between the closed position and the open position. In some embodiments, the speed of rotation increases as the rotatable doors rotate away from the closed position, reaches a maximum between the closed position and the open position, and decreases as the rotatable doors approach the open position. 
     In some embodiments, when rotating between the closed position and the open position, a first rotatable door may automatically rotate clockwise and a second rotatable door may automatically rotate counter-clockwise. In some embodiments, the first rotatable door may be located immediately adjacent to the second rotatable door. In some embodiments, the first rotatable door and the second rotatable door may rotate simultaneously. 
     In some embodiments, rotatable doors immediately adjacent to each other may be spaced apart in the closed position. In some embodiments, the plurality of rotatable doors do not overlap in the closed position. In some embodiments, vertical edges of the rotatable doors may be aligned in same horizontal plane in the closed position. 
     In some embodiments, each of the rotatable doors may include a transparent glass panel. In some embodiments, each of the rotatable doors may have a height of at least 8 feet and a width of at least 6 feet. 
     In some embodiments, each of the rotatable doors may include a peripheral border, the peripheral border defining the horizontal edges, the vertical edges, and a border around the periphery of front and rear surfaces of the rotatable door. In some embodiments, the upper pivot shaft and the lower pivot shaft of each rotatable door may be coupled to the peripheral border of the rotatable door. 
     In some embodiments, the rotating door system may include a controller configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors. In some embodiments, the rotating door system may include a sensor in communication with the controller and the controller may be configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors based on signals received from the sensor. 
     In some embodiments, the rotating door system may include a plurality of gear assemblies, each coupled to the upper pivot shaft or the lower pivot shaft of one of the rotatable doors, a plurality of actuators, each coupled to and configured to rotate a gear assembly, and a controller configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors by operating the actuators. 
     Some embodiments are directed towards a store. In some embodiments, the store includes a plurality of rotatable doors configured to rotate between a closed position and an open position, each of the rotatable doors having a height measured in a vertical direction between opposing horizontal edges, a width measured in a horizontal direction between opposing vertical edges, and an axis of rotation centrally located between the opposing vertical edges. In some embodiments, each of the rotatable doors may be rotatably coupled to an upper support at the axis of rotation via an upper pivot shaft and rotatably coupled to a lower support at the axis of rotation via a lower pivot shaft. In some embodiments, at least a portion of each of the rotatable doors may be transparent. 
     In some embodiments, the store may include a controller configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors between the closed position and the open position. In some embodiments, the store may include a controller configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors between the closed position and the open position, and a sensor in communication with the controller, where the controller is configured to prevent or stop rotation of one or more of the rotatable doors in response to receiving a signal from the sensor. In some embodiments, the store may include a user input in communication with the controller for receiving a user command to rotate the rotatable doors from the closed position to the open position and vice versa. 
     In some embodiments, the store may include a controller configured to control the rotation of the rotatable doors between the closed position and the open position, wherein the controller is configured to rotate each door having an axis of rotation located on the right side of the plurality of rotatable doors in a first rotational direction and to rotate each door having an axis of rotation located on the left side of the plurality of rotatable doors in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, the right and left side being relative to a point of view from outside the store. In some embodiments, the first rotational direction is clockwise viewed from above, and the second rotational direction is counter-clockwise viewed from above. 
     Some embodiments are directed towards a rotating door assembly. In some embodiments, the rotating door assembly may include a panel door having a height measured in a vertical direction between opposing horizontal edges, a width measured in a horizontal direction between opposing vertical edges, and an axis of rotation centrally located between the opposing vertical edges. The rotating door assembly may include an upper support beam having an upper support assembly at least partially disposed in an opening formed in the upper support beam, the upper support assembly including an upper pivot shaft coupled to the panel door at the axis of rotation, an alignment plate coupling the upper pivot shaft to the upper support beam, a gear assembly coupled to the upper pivot shaft, and an actuator coupled to the gear assembly and configured to rotate the rotatable door. In some embodiments, the rotating door assembly may include a lower support assembly having a lower pivot shaft coupled to the panel door at the axis of rotation, the lower pivot shaft including a first end coupled to the panel door and a second end coupled to a bearing plate, a support plate coupled to the lower support beam, and a gimbal plate disposed between the bearing plate and the support plate aligning and securing the bearing plate on the support plate. 
     In some embodiments, the gimbal plate may include an alignment block configured to align the center axes of the lower pivot shaft and the upper pivot shaft, and the support plate may include an alignment block configured to align the center axes of the lower pivot shaft and upper pivot shaft. In some embodiments, the alignment blocks may include at least one alignment block configured to allow the bearing plate to be moved in a first horizontal direction and at least one alignment block configured to allow the bearing plate to be moved in a second horizontal direction different from the first. 
     In some embodiments, the panel door may include a body and a peripheral border defining the horizontal edges, the vertical edges, and a border around a periphery of front and rear surface of the rotatable doors. In some embodiments, the upper pivot shaft and the lower pivot shaft may be coupled to the peripheral border, and the upper pivot shaft and the lower support shaft do not extend through the peripheral border. 
     In some embodiments, the body of the panel door may include a transparent panel. In some embodiments, the body of the panel door may include a glass panel. 
     Some embodiments are directed towards a method of opening a doorway. In some embodiments, method may include receiving a signal to open the doorway at a processor of a controller, and in response to receiving the signal, the controller may control at least one motor to simultaneously rotate a plurality rotatable doors defining at least a portion of the doorway about their respective axes of rotation, where each door having an axis of rotation located on the right side of the plurality of rotatable doors rotates in a first rotational direction and each door having an axis of rotation located on the left side of the plurality of rotatable doors rotates in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. 
     In some embodiments, the speed of rotation of the rotatable doors may be the same. 
     In some embodiments, the speed of rotation of the rotatable doors may follow a variable speed pattern and each of the rotatable doors may follow the same variable speed pattern. In some embodiments, the variable speed pattern may have a bell-shaped pattern starting at a speed of zero when the rotatable doors are in a closed position, increasing in speed as the rotatable doors rotate away from the closed position, reaching a maximum speed between the closed position and the open position, decreasing in speed as the rotatable doors approach the open position, and returning to a speed of zero when the rotatable doors reach the open position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of a rotating door system in a closed position according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  shows a front view of a rotating door system in an open position according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of a rotating door system in an open position according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a set of rotatable doors in a closed position according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a set of rotatable doors in an open position according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a rotating door system in a closed position according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  shows a control system for rotating one or more rotatable doors according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  shows an assembled view of a lower support assembly according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  shows an exploded view of a lower support assembly according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  shows an assembled view of an upper support assembly according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  shows an exploded view of an upper support assembly according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  shows a cross-sectional view of an upper support assembly according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of a portion of a peripheral border for a rotatable door according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  shows a cross-sectional view of a peripheral border of a rotatable door according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary computer system in which embodiments may be implemented. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the claims. 
     References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “an exemplary embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. 
     An aesthetically appealing and inviting doorway for a building may attract positive attention to the building, thereby increasing its status and/or recognition within a community. In some instances, it may be an important tool for attracting business. But, while an aesthetically appealing storefront may be desirable, there may be other important considerations, for example, crowd control. A doorway that individuals intuitively enter and exit may be an effective tool for crowd control. Moreover, the impression a storefront gives and/or attention the storefront garners may be a consideration. For example, in a retail situation, a storefront that focuses customer attention on the products within the store, rather than on the storefront itself may be desirable. A storefront that customers intuitively enter and exit may focus their attention on the store&#39;s products rather than the storefront itself. In some instances, automatic control of the time and manner in which individuals enter a building may be desirable. 
     As described, embodiments of the present invention relate to rotating door systems and methods for opening and closing a doorway, such as a storefront. The rotating door system may include one or more rotatable doors configured to rotate about respective axes of rotation. In some embodiments, the axis of rotation of a rotatable door may be centrally located between opposing vertical edges of the door such that it rotates symmetrically about the axis of rotation. The one or more rotatable doors may be configured to rotate clockwise and/or counter-clockwise to allow individuals to enter a building or establishment (e.g., a store). 
     In some embodiments, a rotating door system may include a plurality of rotatable doors configured to open inwardly towards a geometrical center of a building or establishment, or a geometrical center of a portion of the building or establishment (e.g., a lobby or particular room). Rotatable doors configured to rotate inwardly may exude an inviting appearance to individuals outside the building or establishment. In some embodiments, the rotating door system may include a plurality of rotatable doors configured to open by rotating at the same time and/or speed. 
     In some embodiments, the rotation of one or more rotatable doors may be controlled by a controller. The controller may coordinate (e.g., synchronize) the rotational movements of one or more rotatable doors. In some embodiments, the controller may receive a signal from one or more devices (e.g., user inputs or sensors) to control the rotational movements of one or more rotatable doors. These signals may be used to open the rotatable doors, close the rotatable doors, stop rotation the rotatable doors, prevent the rotation of the rotatable doors, etc. In some embodiments, the controller may control the rotation of one or more rotatable doors by controlling the operation of one or more actuators associated with one or more of the rotatable doors. Automatic control of one or more rotatable doors may be an appealing and effective method for opening and closing a doorway. 
     In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors may be at least partially transparent. Rotatable doors that are at least partially transparent may allow an individual to see through a doorway when the rotatable doors are in a closed position, thereby still providing an inviting appearance even while preventing access to an area. This may be desirable in cases where a business owner would like an individual to have a clear view of the inside of a building, establishment, store, room, etc. when the doors are closed. For example, it may be desirable for a store to include a storefront that allows potential customers to view products for sale within the store when the store is closed. 
     In some embodiments, a rotatable door may be rotatably supported about its axis of rotation by an upper support assembly and a lower support assembly. In some embodiments, a rotatable door may be rotatably coupled to an upper support at its axis of rotation via an upper pivot shaft of an upper support assembly. In some embodiments, a rotatable door may be rotatably coupled to a lower support at its axis of rotation via a lower pivot shaft of a lower support assembly. Upper and lower support assemblies may include one or more alignment features for vertically aligning an upper pivot shaft and a lower pivot shaft such that a rotatable door will properly rotate about its intended axis of rotation (e.g., symmetrically rotate about the axis of rotation). Non-symmetrical rotation may create undesirable stresses on a rotatable door, which may result in increased maintenance costs. 
     These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to the figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. 
     Embodiments of the present invention include a rotating door system  100  for opening and closing a doorway, such as a storefront. Rotating door system  100  may include one or more rotatable doors  110  each defined by two opposing horizontal edges  118 , two opposing vertical edges  120 , a front surface  122 , and a back surface  124 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , each rotatable door  110  has a height  112  measured in a vertical direction  102  between opposing horizontal edges  118  and a width  114  measured in a horizontal direction (e.g., direction  104 ) between opposing vertical edges  120 . In some embodiments, rotating door(s)  110  may have an axis of rotation  130  centrally located between opposing vertical edges  120 . In this manner, rotatable door(s)  110  may rotate symmetrically about axis of rotation  130 . 
     Rotatable doors  110  may rotate been a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) and an open position ( FIG. 2 ) to open and close a doorway. In some embodiments, the closed position and the open position differ by 90 degrees of rotation of rotatable doors  110 . In some embodiments, rotatable doors  110  may automatically rotate between the closed position and the open position. Each rotatable door  110  may rotate in a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction from the closed position to the open position. Also, each rotatable door  110  may rotate in a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction from the open position to the closed position. In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  may rotate in a clockwise direction when rotating from the closed position to the open position. In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  may rotate in a counter-clockwise direction when rotating from the closed position to the open position. Similarly, in some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  may rotate in a clockwise direction when rotating from the open position to the closed position. And, in some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  may rotate in a counter-clockwise direction when rotating from the open position to the closed position. In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  may rotate between the open position and the closed position by rotating in a first direction (e.g., clockwise) when rotating from the closed position to the open position and rotate in the opposite direction (e.g., counter-clockwise) when rotating from the open position to the closed position. 
     In some embodiments, the rotational movement of one or more rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  may be the same, in whole or in part. In some embodiments, multiple rotatable doors  110  may rotate at the same time. In some embodiments, multiple rotatable doors  110  may rotate at the same speed(s). In some embodiments, multiple rotatable doors  110  may rotate at the same speed(s) at the same time. For example, multiple rotatable doors  110  may begin rotating from the closed position at the same time, rotate at the same speed(s), and arrive at the open position at the same time, and vice versa. 
     In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  may rotate at a variable speed between the closed position and the open position (including from the open position to the closed position and from the closed position to the open position). In some embodiments, the speed of rotation increases as rotatable door(s)  110  rotates away from the closed (or open) position, reaches a maximum between the closed position and the open position, and decreases as rotatable door(s)  110  approaches the open (or closed) position. In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  may rotate at a variable speed having a bell-shaped speed pattern. The bell-shaped pattern may start at a speed of zero when a rotatable door  110  is in the closed (or open) position, increase in speed as rotatable door  110  rotates away from the closed (or open) position, reach a maximum speed between the closed position and the open position, decrease in speed as rotatable door  110  approaches the open (or closed) position, and return to a speed of zero when rotatable door  110  reaches the open (or closed) position. 
     The rotational speed, direction, and timing of rotatable doors  110  may be tailored to provide desired visual and practical effects for a doorway. In some embodiments, multiple rotatable doors may rotate simultaneously. In some embodiments, multiple rotatable doors  110  may rotate simultaneously and in synchronization (i.e., with a timed relationship among the multiple rotatable doors  110 , e.g., rotating with the same or opposing movement at the same time). In some embodiments, the multiple rotatable doors  110  remain parallel throughout their rotations between the open position and the closed position. In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  may rotate sequentially (e.g., a right-most door may start its rotation, then the door immediately adjacent to the right-most door may start its rotation, and so on in order throughout the remaining rotatable doors  110 ; or outermost (or innermost) rotatable doors  110  may start their rotation simultaneously, followed sequentially by the next-outermost (or innermost) rotatable doors  110  throughout the remaining rotatable doors  110 ). 
     In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  may rotate independent of the rotational timing and/or direction of other rotatable doors  110 . In some embodiments, each of the rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  may rotate in the same rotational direction. In some embodiments, at least one of the rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  rotates clockwise and at least one of the rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  rotates counter-clockwise. In some embodiments, at least one of the rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  rotates clockwise and least one of the rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  rotates counter-clockwise simultaneously. In some embodiments, a first rotatable door  110  in rotating door system  100  (e.g., rotatable door  110   a ) rotates clockwise and a second rotatable door in rotating door system  100  (e.g., rotatable door  110   b ) located immediately adjacent to the first rotatable door rotates counter-clockwise (see e.g.,  FIG. 3 ). In some embodiments, the first rotatable door (e.g.,  110   a ) and the second rotatable door (e.g.,  110   b ) may rotate simultaneously. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , vertical edges  120  of two or more rotatable doors  110  may be aligned in horizontal direction  104  when in the closed position (i.e., arranged side-by-side). In some embodiments, rotatable doors  110  located immediately adjacent to each other in rotating door system  100  may be spaced apart in the closed position. In some embodiments, rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  do not overlap with each other in the closed position. In some embodiments, the rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  may be aligned in the same plane (e.g., a horizontal plane in horizontal direction  104 ) in the closed position. In some embodiments, a vertical edge  120  of a first rotatable door  110  is spaced apart from a vertical edge  120  of a second rotatable door  110  disposed immediately adjacent to the vertical edge  120  of the first rotatable door  110  when the two rotatable doors  110  are in the closed position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , front and back surfaces  122 / 124  of individual rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  may be arranged parallel to front and back surface  122 / 124  of other rotatable doors  110  in horizontal direction  104  and in a spaced apart relationship (i.e., arranged on parallel vertical planes perpendicular to horizontal direction  104 ). In embodiments where axis of rotation  130  is centrally located between opposing vertical edges  120  of each rotatable door  110 , each rotatable door  110  may be spaced apart from its neighbor(s) by a distance substantially equal to width  114  of a rotatable door  110 . 
     In some embodiments, rotatable doors  110  may be panel doors defined by opposing horizontal edges  118 , opposing vertical edges  120 , a front surface  122 , and a back surface  124 . In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  may include a transparent portion defining at least a portion of front surface  122  and back surface  124 . In this manner, one or more rotatable doors  110  may be see-through. In some embodiments, rotatable doors  110  may include a transparent panel defining at least a portion of front surface  122  and back surface  124 . In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  may include a plurality of glass panels defining at least a portion of front surface  122  and/or back surface  124 . In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  may include a plurality of stacked transparent panels, with one panel defining at least a portion of front surface  122  and one panel defining at least a portion of back surface  124  (see e.g., panels  452  in  FIG. 8 ). 
     Transparent materials for rotatable doors  110  include, but are not limited to, glass, glass ceramics, polymers (e.g., polycarbonate and Poly(methyl methacrylate)), and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the transparent material may be a treated or laminated glass (e.g., a tempered or shatterproof glass). In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  may include a six-sided transparent panel. In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors  110  may include color-changing or transparency-changing material (e.g. electrochromic glass or polymer dispersed liquid crystals). 
     Rotatable doors  110  may be sized and shaped to span across all or a portion of a doorway (e.g., a storefront or other entrance, such as a room or area entrance). Moreover, rotating door system  100  may include any number of rotatable doors  110  sized and shaped accordingly to span across all or a portion of a doorway. In some embodiments, rotating door system  100  may include at least four rotatable doors  110 . In some embodiments, rotatable doors  110  may extend from the lowest boundary (e.g., floor) of the storefront or building doorway to the highest boundary (e.g., a ceiling or upper limit of a doorway cutout in a wall) of the storefront or building doorway. In some embodiments, one or more of the rotatable doors  110  may have a height  112  of at least 8 feet and a width  114  of at least 6 feet. In some embodiments, one or more of the rotatable doors  110  may have a height  112  of at least 10 feet and a width  114  of at least 8 feet. In some embodiments, one or more of the rotatable doors  110  may have a height  112  of approximately 12 feet and a width  114  of approximately 10 feet. Such scale may be particularly useful for a retail storefront. In some embodiments, each of the rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  may have the same dimensions. In some embodiments, the dimensions of one or more rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  may be different. 
     While  FIGS. 1 and 2  show rotatable doors  110  having a flat rectangular shape, rotatable doors  110  may have other shapes including, but not limited to, a square shape, a rectangular or square shape with rounded or tapered horizontal edges  118  and/or rounded or tapered vertical edges  120 , or a rectangular or square shape with a rounded front surface  122  and/or a rounded back surface  124 . In some embodiments, the shape of rotatable doors  110  may be tailored so as to match the exterior shape of storefront, building, or other structure. For example, rotatable doors  110  may be curved (e.g., to match the curve of a doorway), and may include curved glass panels. 
     As an exemplary embodiment,  FIGS. 1-3  show rotating door system  100  including a plurality of rotatable doors  110  defining a portion of a storefront  210  of a store  200 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , store  200  includes a left side wall  202 , a right side wall  204 , a ceiling  206 , a floor  208 , and rear side  214  defining store  200  and an interior volume  209  of store  200 . In a closed position ( FIG. 1 ), rotatable doors  110  may be arranged side-by-side and aligned in a horizontal direction (e.g., direction  104 ) across at least a portion of storefront  210 . In some embodiments, rotatable doors  110  may be arranged side-by-side so as to extend from left side wall  202  to right side wall  204  in the closed position. In some embodiments, rotatable doors  110  may be arranged so as to extend across at least 75% of the distance from left side wall  202  to right side wall  204  in a closed portion. The at least 75% of the distance may be continuous or non-continuous (e.g., broken up by one or more pillars or beams located between rotatable doors  110 ). 
     In some embodiments, storefront  210  may be defined in part by one or more side doors  240 . Side doors  240  may operate independently from rotatable doors  110 . In some embodiments, side doors  240  may only be opened by pre-approved individuals (e.g., store managers) as a security feature. Side doors  240  may be hinged doors or slide doors (e.g., pocket doors). In some embodiments, side doors  240  may be transparent. 
     In operation, rotatable doors  110  may rotate from the closed position to the open position ( FIG. 2 ) so as to allow individuals to enter store  200  by creating one or more walkways  140  for individuals to walk through (see e.g.,  FIG. 2 ). In some embodiments, each rotatable door  110  having an axis of rotation  130  located on the right side of the plurality of rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  (i.e., on the right side of a horizontal center  212  of storefront  210  towards right side wall  204 ) may rotate in a first rotational direction and each rotatable door  110  having an axis of rotation  130  located on the left side of the plurality of rotatable doors  110  in rotating door system  100  (i.e., on the left side of a horizontal center  212  of storefront  210  towards left side wall  202 ) may rotate in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. As discussed herein, the right and left sides of the plurality of rotatable doors  110  are relative to a point of view  230  from outside store  200 , through horizontal center  212  of storefront  210 , to geometrical center  220 . In other words, it is the point of view an individual would have if he or she were walking up to horizontal center  212  of storefront  210  from the outside of store  200 . 
     In some embodiments, when rotating from between a closed position and open position, each rotatable door  110  having an axis of rotation  130  located on the right side of a geometrical center  220  of store may rotate in a first rotational direction (e.g., clockwise) and each rotatable door  110  having an axis of rotation  130  located on the left side of geometrical center  220  may rotate in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction (e.g., counter-clockwise). Clockwise and counterclockwise are used herein as viewed from a top-down perspective, as shown in  FIG. 3 . In some embodiments, each rotatable door  110  having an axis of rotation  130  located on the right side of geometrical center  220  may rotate clockwise and each door having an axis of rotation  130  located on the left side of geometrical center  220  may rotate counter-clockwise. As discussed herein, the right and left sides of geometrical center  220  are relative to point of view  230 . 
     While  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a one-level store  200  with a geometrical center  220  located in the middle of the entire store  200 , geometrical center  220  may be defined by a portion of the store/building. For example, geometrical center  220  may be defined as the geometrical center of a lobby of building. As another example, geometrical center  220  may be defined as the geometrical center of a sales floor of a store. 
       FIG. 3  shows the rotational movement of a plurality of rotatable doors  110  when viewed from above according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 3 , each rotatable door  110  located on the right side of horizontal center  212  (e.g., rotatable door  110   a ) may rotate in a clockwise direction  132  from the closed position (shown in broken lines) to the open position. Similarly, each rotatable door  110  located on the left side of horizontal center  212  (e.g., rotatable door  110   b ) may rotate in a counter-clockwise direction  134  from the closed position to the open position. In this manner, rotatable doors  110  may open inward (e.g., vertical edges  120  closer to horizontal center  212  move inward towards geometrical center  220  of store  200 ) so as to give the impression of inviting individuals into store  200 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show a set of rotatable doors  410  according to an embodiment in a closed position and an open position, respectively. In some embodiments, rotatable doors  410  may include a peripheral border  440  (e.g., a frame) disposed around at least a portion of a perimeter of a body  450 . In some embodiments, peripheral border  440  may be disposed around the entirety of a perimeter of body  450 . Peripheral border  440  may provide structural support for rotatable door  410  and may be coupled to an upper support and a lower support for rotatably supporting rotatable door  410  about axis of rotation  430 . In some embodiments, peripheral border  440  may be formed of steel. 
     Characteristics of rotatable doors  110  described herein may also apply to rotatable doors  410  in some embodiments, and characteristics of rotatable doors  410  described herein may also apply to rotatable doors  110  in some embodiments. Similar to rotatable doors  110 , each rotatable door  410  is defined by two opposing horizontal edges  418 , two opposing vertical edges  420 , a front surface  422 , and a back surface  424 . Also, each rotatable door  410  has a height  412  measured in a vertical direction  402  between opposing horizontal edges  418  and a width  414  measured in a horizontal direction  404  between opposing vertical edges  420 . In some embodiments, rotatable door(s)  410  may have an axis of rotation  430  centrally located between opposing vertical edges  420 . In this manner, rotatable door(s)  410  may rotate symmetrically about axis of rotation  430 . Rotatable doors  410  may rotate in any of the fashions discussed above with regards to rotatable doors  110  to open and close a walkway  470 . Additionally, rotatable doors  410  may have the same dimensions (e.g., height and width) and shapes as discussed above with regards to rotatable doors  110 . For example, in some embodiments, rotatable doors  410  may have a height  412  of at least 10 feet and a width  414  of at least 8 feet. In some embodiments, rotatable doors  410  may have a height  412  of approximately 12 feet and a width  414  of approximately 10 feet. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , peripheral border  440  may define at least a portion of horizontal edges  418 , vertical edges  420 , and a boarder around the periphery of front surface  422  and back surface  424 . In some embodiments, peripheral border  440  may define the entirety of horizontal edges  418  and vertical edges  420 . In some embodiments, portions of peripheral border  440  defining horizontal edges  418  may have a height  442  in the range of 1 inch to 2 inches (25.4 mm to 50.8 mm). In some embodiments, height  442  may be approximately 1.5 inches (approximately 40 mm). In some embodiments, portions of peripheral border  440  defining vertical edges  420  may have a width  444  in the range of 1 inch to 2 inches (25.4 mm to 50.8 mm). In some embodiments, width  444  may be approximately 1.5 inches (approximately 40 mm). 
     Also, peripheral border  440  may define a peripheral thickness  416  of a rotatable door  410  in a horizontal direction  406  perpendicular to horizontal direction  404 . In some embodiments, peripheral thickness  416  may be in the range of 1 inch to 2 inches (25.4 mm to 50.8 mm). In some embodiments, peripheral thickness  416  may be approximately 1.5 inches (approximately 40 mm). In some embodiments, vertical edges  420  defined by peripheral border  440  may be spaced apart in the closed position (see space  460  in  FIG. 4 ). In some embodiments space  460  may be between ¼ of an inch and one inch. In some embodiments, space  460  may be approximately ½ of an inch. 
     Body  450  may include a transparent portion defining at least a portion of front surface  422  and back surface  424 . In this manner, one or more rotatable doors  410  may be see-through. In some embodiments, body  450  may include a transparent panel (e.g., a transparent panel  452 ) defining at least a portion of front surface  422  and back surface  424 . In some embodiments, body  450  may include a plurality of glass panels  452  defining at least a portion of front surface  422  and/or back surface  424 . In some embodiments, body  450  may include a plurality of stacked transparent panels  452 , with one panel  452  defining at least a portion of front surface  422  and one panel  452  defining at least a portion of back surface  424  (see e.g., panels  452  in  FIG. 8 ). In some embodiments, body  450  may include a panel  452  defining a majority of front surface  422  and/or back surface  424  of rotatable door  410 . In some embodiments, body  450  may include a transparent panel  452  (or stack of transparent panels  452 ) defining at least 90% of the surface area of front surface  422  and back surface  424  of rotatable door  110 . In some embodiments, body  450  may include a transparent panel  452  (or stack of transparent panels  452 ) defining at least 95% of the surface area of front surface  422  and back surface of rotatable door  410 . In some embodiments, body  450  and peripheral border  440  may define the entire front surface  422  and back surface  424  of a rotatable door  410  (i.e., define the entire height  412  and width  414  of a rotatable door  410 ). 
     Transparent materials for panels  452  include but are not limited to glass, glass ceramics, polymers (e.g., polycarbonate and Poly(methyl methacrylate)) and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, panels  452  may be laminated together. In some embodiments, panels  452  may be a tempered or shatterproof glass. In some embodiments, body  450  may include color-changing or transparency-changing material (e.g. electrochromic glass or polymer dispersed liquid crystals). 
       FIG. 6  shows a rotating door system  600  including rotatable doors  410  rotatably coupled to an upper support  610  and a lower support  620  about respective axes of rotation  430  according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, upper support  610  may include a ceiling (e.g., ceiling  206 ). In some embodiments, upper support  610  may include an upper support beam (e.g., support beam  1010 ). In some embodiments, lower support  620  may include a floor (e.g., floor  208 ). In some embodiments, lower support  620  may include a lower support beam (e.g., support beam  1010 ). A rotatable door  410  may be rotatably coupled to upper support  610  and lower support  620  via an upper support assembly  612  and a lower support assembly  622 , respectively. Exemplary upper support assemblies  612  and lower support assemblies  622  are discussed herein with respect to  FIGS. 8-12 . 
     In some embodiments, one or more rotatable doors may be rotated under control of a controller, automatically and/or in response to a signal (e.g., a user input).  FIG. 7  shows a control system  700  for controlling the rotation of one or more rotatable doors  710  according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 7 , control system  700  may include a controller  720  in communication with a plurality of rotatable doors  710 . Rotatable doors  710  may be, e.g., any rotatable door discussed herein (e.g., doors  110  and  410 ). Controller  720  may be configured to rotate each rotatable door  710 , together or individually, in any manner discussed herein with respect to rotatable doors  110  or  410 . In some embodiments, controller  720  may be configured to rotate each rotatable door  710  simultaneously or sequentially. In some embodiments, controller  720  may be in communication with actuators  750  associated with individual rotatable doors  710 . In some embodiments, each actuator  750  may include a motor (e.g., electric motor). 
     In some embodiments, control system  700  may include one or more sensors  730  in communication with controller  720 . In some embodiments, controller  720  may be configured to control the rotation of one or more rotatable doors  710  based on signals received from one or more sensors  730 . In some embodiments, controller  720  may be configured to prevent or stop rotation of one or more rotatable doors  710  in response to receiving a signal from one or more sensors  730 . For example, if a sensor  730  detects the presence of an object between two rotatable doors in the open position, sensor  730  may send a signal to controller  720  indicating the presence of the object and, in turn, controller  720  may prevent or stop rotation of the two rotatable doors  710 . Sensors  730  may include, but are not limited to, a motion sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a heat sensor, a touch sensor, a camera, a microphone, or a combination thereof. 
     In some embodiments, control system  700  may include one or more user inputs  740  in communication with controller  720 . User inputs  740  may be configured to receive a user command to rotate rotatable doors  710  from the closed position to the open position, or vice versa, and to send a signal to controller  720 . User inputs  740  may include, but are not limited to, a button, a keyboard, a touch screen, a remote control, or a mobile phone. 
     In some embodiments, controller  720  may be in communication with a server  760 . In such embodiments, controller  720  may be in communication with and receive commands from server  760 . For example, server  760  may send a command to controller  720  to rotate one or more rotatable doors  710  from the closed position to the open position, or vice versa. In some embodiments, server  760  may be a local (e.g., on site) server. In some embodiments, server  760  may be a remote server. In some embodiments, server  760  may be in communication with sensor(s)  730  and/or user inputs  740 , either directly or via controller  720 . In some embodiments, server  760  may be in communication with a central controller. In such embodiments, controllers  720  at different locations (e.g., different stores  200 ) may receive commands from the central controller via server  760 . For example, a central controller may be configured to send a command to simultaneously open one or more rotatable doors  710  at different locations via server  760 . 
     Control system  700 , or components thereof, may be incorporated into a building, store, etc. having one or more rotatable doors  710 . As an example, store  200  may include a control system  700 . In such embodiments, sensor(s)  730  may be located on ceiling  206 , on left side wall  202 , on right side wall  204 , on floor  208 , and/or on rotatable doors  110 ,  410 ,  710  themselves. In some embodiments, a processor  722  of controller  720  may receive a signal (e.g., from user input  740  or server  760 ) to open a doorway (e.g., storefront  210 ), and, in response to receiving the signal, controller  720  may control at least one motor to simultaneously rotate a plurality of rotatable doors defining at least a portion of the doorway about their respective axes of rotation. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show a lower support assembly  800  for rotatably supporting a rotatable door according to an embodiment. Lower support assembly  800  may include a lower support plate  810 , a gimbal plate  820 , and a bearing plate  830 . Lower support plate  810  may include a plurality of fasteners  812  configured to secure lower support plate  810  to a lower support (e.g., a support beam the same as or similar to support beam  1010 ) and/or a floor (e.g., floor  208 )). In some embodiments, lower support assembly  800  may be at least partially disposed in an opening of a support beam and/or in a recess formed in floor  208 . Similar to lower support plate  810 , gimbal plate  820  may include a plurality of fasteners  822  configured to secure gimbal plate  820  to lower support plate  810 . Fasteners  812 / 822  may be, but are not limited to, screws, rivets, or bolts. In some embodiments, lower support plate  810  and/or gimbal plate  820  may alternatively or additionally be adhered (e.g., by welding) to a lower support (e.g., beam or floor) and lower support plate  810 , respectively. 
     Lower support plate  810  and gimbal plate  820  may be configured to provide horizontal motion with two degrees of freedom in the horizontal plane for bearing plate  830  before being fully secured into place (e.g., before fasteners  812 / 822  are fully assembled and tightened). In this manner, lower support plate  810  and gimbal plate  820  may serve to vertically align a center axis  864  of a lower pivot shaft  860  with a center axis  1024  of an upper pivot shaft  1020  before a rotatable door is installed on lower support assembly  800 . 
     In some embodiments, lower support plate  810  may include one or more alignment blocks  816  configured to align the center axes  864 / 1024  of lower pivot shaft  860  and upper pivot shaft  1020  (e.g., in a first horizontal direction  404 ). Alignment block(s)  816  may be fixed to a top surface  811  of lower support plate  810  via, for example, welding. In some embodiments, alignment block(s)  816  may be integrally formed with top surface  811  of lower support plate  810  (e.g., via molding and/or machining). Alignment block(s)  816  may include an alignment aperture  817  configured to receive an alignment screw  818 , where rotation of alignment screw  818  causes linear motion of gimbal plate  820  relative to lower support plate  810  in first horizontal direction  404 . In some embodiments, alignment blocks  816  may be positioned adjacent to one or more transverse sides  823  of gimbal plate  820  when lower support plate  810  and gimbal plate  820  are assembled. 
     Similar to lower support plate  810 , gimbal plate  820  may include one or more alignment blocks  826  configured to align the center axes of lower pivot shaft  860  and upper pivot shaft  1020  (e.g., in a second horizontal direction different from the first (e.g., in second horizontal direction  406  perpendicular to first horizontal direction  404 )). Alignment block(s)  826  may be fixed to a top surface  821  of gimbal plate  820  via, for example, welding. In some embodiments, alignment block(s)  826  may be integrally formed with top surface  821  of gimbal plate  820  (e.g., via molding and/or machining). Alignment block(s)  826  may include an alignment aperture  827  configured to receive an alignment screw  828 , where rotation of alignment screws  828  causes linear motion of bearing plate  830  relative to gimbal plate  820  in second horizontal direction  406 . In some embodiments, alignment blocks  826  may be positioned adjacent to one or more longitudinal sides  835  of bearing plate  830  when gimbal plate  820  and bearing plate  830  are assembled. 
     In some embodiments, at least one alignment block  816 / 826  may be configured to allow bearing plate  830  to be moved (aligned) in a first horizontal direction (e.g., horizontal direction  404 ) and at least one alignment block  816 / 826  may be configured to allow bearing plate  830  to be moved (aligned) in a second horizontal direction different from the first horizontal direction (e.g., second horizontal direction  406  perpendicular to first horizontal direction  404 ). As an example,  FIGS. 8 and 9  show lower support plate  810  including two alignment blocks  816  configured to align bearing plate  830  in first horizontal direction  404  and gimbal plate  820  including two alignment blocks  826  configured to align bearing plate  830  in a second horizontal direction  406 . 
     Small movements of bearing plate  830  in either first horizontal direction  404  or second horizontal direction  406  may be accomplished by slightly screwing or unscrewing an alignment screw  818 / 828 . In operation, alignment screws  818  may be threaded through respective alignment apertures  817  so as to engage transverse sides  823  of gimbal plate  820 , thereby moving gimbal plate  820  in first horizontal direction  404 . This will in turn move bearing plate  830  in first horizontal direction  404 . Similarly, alignment screws  828  may be threaded through respective alignment apertures  827  so as to engage longitudinal sides  835  of bearing plate  830 , thereby moving bearing plate  830  in second horizontal direction  406 . In this manner, the threading of alignment screws  818 / 828  may allow for precise positioning of bearing plate  830 . Once bearing plate  830  is properly aligned, bearing plate  830  may be secured to gimbal plate  820  via fasteners  832  and gimbal plate  820  may be secured to lower support plate  810  via fasteners  822 . 
     While  FIGS. 8 and 9  show alignment blocks  816 / 826  located on lower support plate  810  and gimbal plate  820 , respectively. In some embodiments, all the alignment blocks  816 / 826  may be located on lower support plate  810  or gimbal plate  820 . Also, while  FIGS. 8 and 9  show alignments blocks  816  positioned adjacent to transverse sides  823  of gimbal plate  820 , alignment blocks  816  may be alternatively or additionally be positioned adjacent to the longitudinal sides  825  of gimbal plate  820 . Similarly, alignment blocks  826  may be alternatively or additionally be positioned adjacent to the transverse sides  833  of bearing plate  830 . In other words, gimbal plate  820  may allow for positioning of bearing plate  830  in first horizontal direction  404  and lower support plate  810  may allow for positioning of bearing plate  830  in second horizontal direction  406 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , bearing plate  830  coupled to lower pivot shaft  860 . In some embodiments, bearing plate  830  may include a pivot shaft support  840  for rotatably supporting a lower pivot shaft  860 . Pivot shaft support  840  may include an open end  842  configured to receive a portion of lower pivot shaft  860  and allow lower pivot shaft  860  to freely rotate therein. In some embodiments, pivot shaft support  840  may include one or more bearings (e.g., bearings  850  and  852 ) configured to rotatably support lower pivot shaft  860  in pivot shaft support  840  and allow lower pivot shaft  860  to freely rotate. 
     A rotatable door (e.g., rotatable door  110 ,  410  or  710 ) may be rotatably coupled to a lower support (e.g., floor or support beam) via lower pivot shaft  860  at an axis of rotation (e.g., axis  130  or  430 ) of the rotatable door. In some embodiments, lower pivot shaft  860  may include a coupling  862  for attaching lower pivot shaft  860  and the rotatable door. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , lower pivot shaft  860  may include a coupling  862  configured to attach to a peripheral border (e.g.,  440 ) of a rotatable door (e.g.,  410 ). In some embodiments, lower pivot shaft  860  and/or coupling  862  may not extend through peripheral border  440  into body  450  of rotatable door  410 . In such embodiments, no portion of lower pivot shaft  860  is visible in body  450  of rotatable door  410 . 
       FIGS. 10-12  show an upper support assembly  1000  for rotatably supporting a rotatable door according to an embodiment. Upper support assembly  1000  may include a support beam  1010 . In some embodiments, support beam  1010  may include a plurality of openings  1012  for receiving components of upper support assembly  1000  to conceal the components from view. In other words, upper support assembly  1000  may be at least partially disposed in an opening  1012  of support beam  1010 . A rotatable door (e.g., rotatable door  110 ,  410 , or  710 ) may be rotatably coupled to an upper support (e.g., ceiling  206  and/or support beam  1010 ) via an upper pivot shaft  1020  at an axis of rotation (e.g., axis  130  or  430 ) of the rotatable door. Upper pivot shaft  1020  may be rotatably coupled to a ceiling and/or support beam  1010  via one or more of a bearing assembly  1030 , an alignment plate  1050 , and a support plate  1060 . 
     In some embodiments, upper pivot shaft  1020  may include a coupling  1022  for attaching upper pivot shaft  1020  and a rotatable door. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 10-12 , upper pivot shaft  1020  may include a coupling  1022  configured to attach to a peripheral border (e.g.,  440 ) of a rotatable door (e.g.,  410 ). In some embodiments, upper pivot shaft  1020  and/or coupling  1022  may not extend through peripheral border  440  into body  450  of rotatable door  410 . In such embodiments, no portion of upper pivot shaft  1020  is visible in body  450  of rotatable door  410 . 
     Bearing assembly  1030  may include one or more bearings  1032  and a bearing support plate  1034  rotatably coupling upper pivot shaft  1020  to support beam  1010 . Alignment plate  1050  may be configured to align center axis  1024  of upper pivot shaft  1020  and with center axis  864  of lower pivot shaft  860  and may be secured to support beam  1010  via a plurality of fasteners  1052 . In some embodiments, alignment plate  1050  may include one or more alignment blocks  1054  configured to align support plate  1060  in horizontal direction  404  and/or horizontal direction  406 . Alignment blocks  1054  may be the same as or similar to alignment blocks  816 / 826 . Fasteners  1052  may include, but are not limited to, screws, rivets, bolts. In some embodiments, alignment plate  1050  may alternatively or additionally be welded to support beam  1010 . 
     Support plate  1060  may include hollow casing  1064  for rotatably receiving a portion of upper pivot shaft  1020 . In some embodiments, support plate  1060  may include a bearing assembly  1066  for rotatably supporting upper pivot shaft  1020  and/or casing  1064 . Support plate  1060  may be coupled to alignment plate  1050  via fasteners  1062 . Fasteners  1062  may include, but are not limited to, to, screws, rivets, bolts. In some embodiments, support plate  1060  may alternatively or additionally be welded to alignment plate  1050 . 
     In some embodiments, upper support assembly  1000  may include a brake  1040 . Brake  1040  may be a hydraulic brake including a hydraulic tube  1042  configured to receive a hydraulic shaft  1044 . Hydraulic shaft  1044  may be coupled to a brake arm  1046  that is attached to upper pivot shaft  1020 . Brake  1040  may be configured to prevent undesirable rotation of a rotatable door. For example, brake  1040  may prevent a rotatable door from rotating more than 90 degrees when rotating from a closed position to an open position. In some embodiments, brake  1040  may facilitate smooth rotational movements of a rotatable door. In such embodiments, brake  1040  may work in conjunction with an actuator  1070  to ensure that a rotatable door smoothly rotates from an open (or closed) position to a closed (or open) position at desired speed(s). 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , an actuator  1070  may be coupled to upper pivot shaft  1020 . Actuator  1070  may include a gear assembly  1072  coupled to and configured to rotate upper pivot shaft  1020 . In operation, actuator  1070  may be coupled to and configured to rotate gear assembly  1072  to thereby rotate upper pivot shaft  1020 . In some embodiments, gear assembly  1072  may include a spindle. In some embodiments, actuator  1070  may be an electric motor. In some embodiments, actuator  1070  may be a variable speed motor. In some embodiments, actuator  1070  may be a mechanical actuator such as a pulley or gear. In such embodiments, a motor driving to a belt or chain may be configured to rotate one or more pulleys or gears so as to rotate one or more rotatable doors. 
     While certain components of lower support assembly  800  and upper support assembly  1000  have been described in reference to being in lower support assembly  800  and upper support assembly  1000 , these components may be alternatively or additionally incorporated into either support assembly. For example, upper support assembly  1000  may include a support plate and gimbal plate the same as or similar to lower support plate  810  and gimbal plate  820  for aligning center axes  864 / 1024  of lower pivot shaft  860  and upper pivot shaft  1020 . As another example, upper support assembly  1000  may include an actuator and/or brake the same as or similar to actuator  1070  and brake  1040 . 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  show a peripheral border  1300  according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, peripheral border  1300  may include a horizontal crossbar  1310  having a groove  1314  sized and shaped (dimensioned) to revive a horizontal edge of a rotatable door body (e.g., body  450 ). In some embodiments, peripheral border  1300  may include a vertical crossbar  1312  having a groove  1313  sized and shaped to receive a vertical edge of a rotatable door body (e.g., body  450 ). In some embodiments, a cushioning element  1318  may be disposed in grooves  1314 / 1313  for protecting the horizontal edges and/or vertical edges of a rotatable door body. In some embodiments cushioning element  1318  may include structural silicone. In some embodiments, horizontal crossbar  1310  and/or vertical crossbar  1312  may include a seal/weatherproofing  1322  for sealing peripheral border  1300  to a body of a rotatable door. 
     In some embodiments, peripheral border  1300  may include a cavity  1316  located around all or a portion of a perimeter of horizontal crossbars  1310  and vertical crossbars  1312 . Cavity  1316  may be at least partially enclosed by cladding  1320  disposed around all or a portion of a perimeter of horizontal crossbars  1310  and vertical crossbars  1312 . In some embodiments, cladding  1320  may be bronze cladding. In some embodiments, a portion of cavity  1316  located on horizontal crossbars  1310  may be sized and shaped to receive couplings  862  and  1022  of lower pivot shaft  860  and upper pivot shaft  1020 , respectively. 
     In some embodiments, one or more a locking mechanisms  1330  may be disposed in a portion of cavity  1316 . Locking mechanism(s)  1330  may extend from and retract into cavity  1316  so as to lock and unlock a rotatable door in a closed and/or open position. In some embodiments, locking mechanism(s)  1330  may include a magnetic locking mechanism to lock and unlock a rotatable door in a closed and/or open position. In some embodiments, locking mechanism(s)  1330  may be manually controlled (e.g., with a key). In some embodiments, locking mechanism(s)  1330  may be controlled by a controller (e.g., controller  720 ). 
     One or more aspects of the rotatable door systems and methods discussed herein or function(s) thereof may be implemented using hardware, software modules, firmware, tangible computer readable media having instructions stored thereon, or a combination thereof and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates an exemplary computer system  1500  in which embodiments, or portions thereof, may be implemented as computer-readable code. For example, portions of controller  720  or server  760  may be implemented in computer system  1500  using hardware, software, firmware, tangible computer readable media having instructions stored thereon, or a combination thereof and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. 
     If programmable logic is used, such logic may execute on a commercially available processing platform or a special purpose device. One of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can be practiced with various computer system configurations, including multi-core multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, and mainframe computers, computer linked or clustered with distributed functions, as well as pervasive or miniature computers that may be embedded into virtually any device. 
     For instance, at least one processor device and a memory may be used to implement the above described embodiments. A processor device may be a single processor, a plurality of processors, or combinations thereof. Processor devices may have one or more processor “cores.” 
     Various embodiments of the inventions may be implemented in terms of this example computer system  1500 . After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art how to implement one or more of the inventions using other computer systems and/or computer architectures. Although operations may be described as a sequential process, some of the operations may in fact be performed in parallel, concurrently, and/or in a distributed environment, and with program code stored locally or remotely for access by single or multiprocessor machines. In addition, in some embodiments the order of operations may be rearranged without departing from the spirit of the disclosed subject matter. 
     Processor device  1504  may be a special purpose or a general purpose processor device. As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the relevant art, processor device  1504  may also be a single processor in a multi-core/multiprocessor system, such system operating alone, or in a cluster of computing devices operating in a cluster or server farm. Processor device  1504  is connected to a communication infrastructure  1506 , for example, a bus, message queue, network, or multi-core message-passing scheme. 
     Computer system  1500  also includes a main memory  1508 , for example, random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory  1510 . Secondary memory  1510  may include, for example, a hard disk drive  1512 , or removable storage drive  1514 . Removable storage drive  1514  may include a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, a flash memory, or the like. The removable storage drive  1514  reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit  1518  in a well-known manner. Removable storage unit  1518  may include a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive etc. which is read by and written to by removable storage drive  1514 . As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the relevant art, removable storage unit  1518  includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data. 
     Computer system  1500  (optionally) includes a display interface  1502  (which can include input and output devices such as keyboards, mice, etc.) that forwards graphics, text, and other data from communication infrastructure  1506  (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on display unit  1530 . 
     In alternative implementations, secondary memory  1510  may include other similar means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into computer system  1500 . Such means may include, for example, a removable storage unit  1522  and an interface  1520 . Examples of such means may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM, or PROM) and associated socket, and other removable storage units  1522  and interfaces  1520  which allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit  1522  to computer system  1500 . 
     Computer system  1500  may also include a communication interface  1524 . Communication interface  1524  allows software and data to be transferred between computer system  1500  and external devices. Communication interface  1524  may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communication port, a PCMCIA slot and card, or the like. Software and data transferred via communication interface  1524  may be in the form of signals, which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signals capable of being received by communication interface  1524 . These signals may be provided to communication interface  1524  via a communication path  1526 . Communication path  1526  carries signals and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, an RF link or other communication channels. 
     In this document, the terms “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are used to generally refer to media such as removable storage unit  1518 , removable storage unit  1522 , and a hard disk installed in hard disk drive  1512 . Computer program medium and computer usable medium may also refer to memories, such as main memory  1508  and secondary memory  1510 , which may be memory semiconductors (e.g. DRAMs, etc.). 
     Computer programs (also called computer control logic) are stored in main memory  1508  and/or secondary memory  1510 . Computer programs may also be received via communication interface  1524 . Such computer programs, when executed, enable computer system  1500  to implement the embodiments as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable processor device  1504  to implement the processes of the embodiments discussed here. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of the computer system  1500 . Where the embodiments are implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system  1500  using removable storage drive  1514 , interface  1520 , and hard disk drive  1512 , or communication interface  1524 . 
     Embodiments of the inventions also may be directed to computer program products comprising software stored on any computer useable medium. Such software, when executed in one or more data processing device, causes a data processing device(s) to operate as described herein. Embodiments of the inventions may employ any computer useable or readable medium. Examples of computer useable mediums include, but are not limited to, primary storage devices (e.g., any type of random access memory), secondary storage devices (e.g., hard drives, floppy disks, CD ROMS, ZIP disks, tapes, magnetic storage devices, and optical storage devices, MEMS, nanotechnological storage device, etc.). 
     The foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. These exemplary embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. All specific details described are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. 
     It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings, and that by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, one may readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. 
     The Detailed Description section is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims. 
     The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed. 
     The phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan. 
     The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20160629
Publication Date: 20201229
Grant Date: 20201229
Priority Date: 20150701
Inventors: ANDRUS, JAMES
WRIGHT, ED
MCGRATH, JAMES
ALBERTINI, Marco
GORDON, BRENT
PERRY, HILTON
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "E06B3/40", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B1/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B1/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B3/40", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2900/132", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B2003/406", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05F15/70", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05F15/70", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05F15/611", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2900/132", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B2003/406", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05F15/611", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B3/40", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B1/38", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E06B2003/406", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05F15/70", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05Y2900/132", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E05F15/611", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 57683600