Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a garage door assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bottom bracket having a slidable roller housing for an upward acting or vertical opening sectional garage door or single panel garage door. 
     One problem associated with lightweight and heavy doors constructed of sheet metal, extruded aluminum, as well as polymer materials, has been the provision of suitable brackets for transferring loads from door counterbalance or lifting cables to the door structure itself. A particular problem has been the lowermost bracket for guiding the door for movement between open and closed positions. Desirably, the brackets should be arranged in such a way as to minimize inadvertent disconnection of the bracket from the door when the door counterbalance or lifting cables are under high tension, so as to minimize the chance of injury, damage to the door structure and/or damage to the counterbalance mechanism. 
     A conventional bottom bracket generally includes a cable attachment and a roller housing for securing a guide member therein. The roller housing typically includes spaced apart flanges stamped out of the bottom bracket, each flange having at least one hole dimensioned to receive a shaft of a roller of the guide member. The flanges of the roller housing are typically positioned on the bottom bracket at a predetermined distance from a side edge and a bottom edge of the bottom bracket. This distance varies when different sized roller diameters (generally 2″ or 3″ diameters depending on the size of tracks of the garage door) are used. 
     In some cases the flange holes for the roller shaft are slightly larger than the roller shaft such that an end of the shaft can slip out of one of the flange holes. This slippage can prevent the roller shaft from floating sideways in the roller housing during movement of the door thereby causing the roller to bind in between the roller flanges. In these instances, a tube, typically formed of sheet metal, can be inserted through the holes. The roller shaft is then inserted in the tube. A roller with a longer shaft can be used with or without a tube to prevent the roller shaft from slipping out of the flange holes or the tube. 
     Recently, bottom brackets have included separate U-shaped roller housings. The U-shaped roller housing is generally fastened, such as by a rivet or screw, to a surface of the bottom bracket. Each arm of the U-shaped roller housing includes a pair of holes for either a 2″ roller or a 3″ roller. Because the holes are so close to each other, insert tubes for roller shafts generally can not be used. 
     On problem associated with the fastening of the U-shaped roller housing to the bottom bracket is that screws can loosen, which can cause the roller housing to disengage from the bottom bracket. With a riveted roller housing, in order to remove or replace the guide member, the entire bottom bracket has to be removed. Because of the tremendous tension and pressure transferred to the cables from the lifting mechanism, the removal of the bottom bracket, which is attached to the cables, can be dangerous. In addition, it is very time consuming to release the pressure from the lifting mechanism just to replace a guide member. Another method in replacing the guide member without having to remove the entire bottom bracket is to bend the door track channel outward and force the roller out of the track. The door panel is then pulled out of its operating position in order to replace the roller. However, this pulling method can be cumbersome when the door track channel is secured to a steel frame or is installed too close to the garage door structure. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a new and improved bottom bracket which overcomes certain difficulties and safety issues with the prior art designs while providing better and more advantageous overall results. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a garage door assembly includes a plurality of interconnected garage door panels, a track and a cable. A bracket assembly is attached to one of the panels. The bracket assembly includes a moveable member including a roller which is rotatably received in the track. A fixed member is attached to a panel and includes a portion to which the cable is attached. The fixed member selectively accommodates the moveable member. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a garage door assembly includes a bottom door panel, a track and a bracket assembly attached to the bottom door panel. The bracket assembly comprises a fixed member and a moveable member. The fixed member is attached to the bottom door panel. The moveable member is slidably mounted on the fixed member. The moveable member comprises at least two longitudinally extending bores. Each of the bores selectively accommodates an axle of a roller mounted in the track. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a garage door assembly comprises a bottom door panel, a track, a cable and a bracket assembly attached to a lower corner of the bottom door panel. The bracket assembly includes a moveable member including a roller which is received in the track. A fixed member is attached to the bottom door panel. The fixed member comprises a first panel, a second panel and a third panel. The second panel is oriented approximately transverse to the first panel. The third panel is oriented approximately transverse to both the first panel and the second panel. The moveable member is mounted to the first panel of the fixed member. 
     Still other aspects of the invention will become apparent from a reading and understanding of the detailed description of the several embodiments described hereinbelow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, several embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is schematic side elevational view of a garage door assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected garage door panels and a bottom bracket assembly, attached to the lowermost panel, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is an enlarged schematic view of the bottom bracket assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged front perspective view, with the door partially broken away, of a left-hand bottom bracket assembly of the present invention attached to a first side edge of the lowermost garage door panel. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged front perspective view, with the door partially broken away, of a right-hand bottom bracket assembly according to the present invention attached to a second side edge of the lowermost garage door panel. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged front perspective view of a bracket of the right-hand bracket assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a front elevational view of the bracket of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 5B  is a side elevational view of the bracket of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged front elevational view of a moveable roller housing of the bottom bracket assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the moveable roller housing of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged side perspective view of the bottom bracket of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. It will also be appreciated that the various identified components of the garage door assembly disclosed herein are merely terms of art that may vary from one manufacturer to another and should not be deemed to limit the present invention. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation of the garage door assembly illustrated in the drawings. 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein the drawings illustrate several embodiments of the present invention only and are not intended to limit same,  FIGS. 1 and 1A  illustrate a garage door assembly, generally designated by the numeral  10 . The garage door assembly includes an upwardly openable door  20  including, in one embodiment, a plurality of generally planar door panels  22  which can be interconnected by suitable hinge assemblies (not illustrated) mounted to cooperating adjacent edges of the door panels. The door  20  is supported for movement between the closed position shown, which closes an opening  28  in a wall  30 , and an open position by spaced apart guide tracks  32  (only one being illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). Opposed first guide members  36  are mounted on the door  20  at spaced apart positions. The first guide members include rollers  38  which are retained in the guide tracks in a known manner for supporting the door in its open and closed positions and for guiding the door during movement therebetween. 
     A suitable counterbalance and/or lifting mechanism  40  is mounted on a wall, generally above and adjacent to the door  20 . It is connected to the door by spaced apart depending flexible members, such as cables  44  (only one being shown), also in a generally known manner. An operator mechanism for moving the door  20  between open and closed positions may be of a conventional type. Each depending cable  44  is connected to the lowermost garage door panel  22  at opposite side edges thereof by way of opposed bottom brackets, each generally designated by the numeral  50 . What is termed a left-hand bracket assembly is illustrated in  FIG. 2  and what is termed a right-hand bottom bracket assembly is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Since the bracket assemblies are mirror images of each other, only the right hand bracket assembly will be discussed herein. However, it should be evident that the left-hand bracket assembly includes mirror images of the same components. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 A and  5 B, the bracket assembly  50  includes a fixed member or bracket  52  generally comprising a front plate  54 , a side plate  56  and a bottom plate  58 . A first flange  62  and a second flange  64 , which is spaced from the first flange, extend outwardly from the front plate. The first and second flanges can be stamped out of the front plate  54 . In the depicted embodiment, the first and second flanges are generally L-shaped; although, this is not required. Other shapes can be contemplated as well. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the first and second flanges  62 ,  64  are adapted to selectively accommodate a moveable member or roller housing  66 . The bracket  52  further includes a tab  70  having a hole  72  extending outwardly from the front plate  54  for the attachment of a pull cord (not shown) or the like. 
     The bracket  52  can be attached to the lowermost garage door panel  22  via conventional means. For example, fasteners, such as screws, can extend through generally round and/or generally slotted openings  74  and  76 , respectively, located on the front plate  54  of the bracket and threadingly engage the garage door panel  22 . It should be appreciated that alternative means for securing the bracket  52  to the garage door panel  22  is also contemplated. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , once secured to the panel, the front, side and bottom plates  54 - 56  of the bracket abut respective front, side and bottom surfaces of the door panel. 
     As indicated above, the right-hand bracket assembly  50  is connected to a right hand one of the cables  44 . Particularly, and with reference to  FIG. 1A , each of the cables can be provided with a becket or eye (not shown) at its free end. The cable becket is adapted to engage a cable mount or arm  78  extending from one of the side plate  56  and bottom plate  58  of the bracket. In the depicted embodiment of  FIG. 8 , the cable mount or arm is generally L-shaped. It includes a first section  84  and a second section  86 . The first section  84  extends outwardly and upwardly from a side edge  88  of the bottom plate  58 . To secure the cable to the cable mount  78 , a stem can be inserted through the cable becket, the ends of the stem being secured in aligned apertures  80  and  82  located on the side plate  56  and the cable mount  78 , respectively. Alternatively, the cable becket can be attached to a flanged lug mounted in one of the aperture  80  and  82 . It should be appreciated that other means for securing the cable to the bracket assembly  50  are also contemplated. 
     With reference again to  FIG. 3 , the roller housing  66  of the bracket assembly  50  is adapted to support a second guide member  90 . The second guide member includes a roller  92  mounted on an elongated, generally cylindrical shaft member or axle  94 . The rollers  92  of the two bracket assemblies are adapted to be retained in the guide tracks  32 . As indicated above, the roller housing  66  is slidably mounted on the bracket  52 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the roller housing comprises a body  98  including at least two longitudinally extending bores  100 . In the depicted embodiment, the roller housing includes three longitudinally extending bores arranged in a triangular fashion. Each of the bores is dimensioned to selectively accommodate the axle  94  of the second guide member  90 . An end of the axle can include a hole (not shown) for a cotter pin, spring clip or the like to prevent the roller housing  66  from sliding out of the first and second flanges  62  and  64 . 
     The lower bore can be used for second guide members having a two inch (2″) roller and the upper bores can be used for second guide members having a three inch (3″) roller. The upper two bores are generally used for left and right hand applications when three inch rollers are used. For residential garage doors, which generally are much lighter than industrial and commercial garage doors, the roller housing  66  can include only one or two bores, a second bore being used for attachment of a safety mechanism to prevent the door from dropping in case the cable  44  breaks and/or the lifting mechanism  40  fails. The roller housing can be made of solid materials, such as plastic, metal or the like, and can be molded or cast. It can also be machined out of a solid block of material. Alternatively, it can be extruded from plastic, aluminum or the like. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in this embodiment, the roller housing  66  also includes a first shoulder  110  which slidingly cooperates with the first flange  62  and a second shoulder  112  which slidingly cooperates with the second flange  64 . The shoulders  110  and  112  are defined in opposed side walls  114  and  116  of the body  98  of the roller housing  66 . It should also be evident that the body  98  also includes a top wall  118  and a pair of angled walls  120  and  122 . Of course, other designs are also contemplated. To mount the roller housing  66  to the bracket  52 , the first and second shoulders are aligned with the first and second flanges  62  and  64 . In this position, the roller housing can be slid onto the flanges of the bracket. 
     A flange  130  extends away from an end wall  128  of the roller housing  66 . The flange includes at least one mounting aperture  132  for receiving at least one fastener  138  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The fastener cooperates with the flange to selectively secure the roller housing to the bracket  52 . It should be apparent from  FIG. 7  that the flange  130  is wider than the body  98 . This construction prevents the roller housing  66  from sliding too far into the opening formed by the first and second bracket flanges  62  and  64 . However, when a flange back wall  134  is butted up against the edges of the bracket flanges  62  and  64 , the flange apertures  132  are aligned with apertures  136  in the bracket  52  to allow the fasteners  138  to extend therethrough. Removal or replacement of a second guide member  90  is made simple by removing the fasteners  138  (and possibly a cotter pin or spring clip attached on the axle end), sliding the roller housing  66  out of the bracket  52  and removing the second guide member  90  from the guide track  32 . This eliminates possible injuries to the user, potential damage to the door structure and/or the counterbalance mechanism and the extended time needed to replace the guide member. 
     The present invention has been described with reference to several embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the present invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Technology Category: e