Sectional door panel
A sectional door movable between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position having, a plurality of adjacent panels joined by hinges for articulation in moving between the closed vertical position and the open horizontal position, each of the panels having a facer defining the perimeter of the panels by longitudinal edge extensions terminating in ends, the hinges and the longitudinal edge extensions configured to maintain a clearance between the longitudinal edge extensions of the adjacent panels during articulation thereof, and an up-bow in the longitudinal edge extensions to prevent sagging that could result in interference between longitudinal edge extensions of the adjacent panels when the panels are substantially in the horizontal position.
1 . A sectional door movable between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position comprising, a plurality of adjacent panels joined by hinges for articulation in moving between the closed vertical position and the open horizontal position, each of said panels having a facer defining the perimeter of said panels by longitudinal edge extensions terminating in ends, said hinges and said longitudinal edge extensions configured to maintain a clearance between said longitudinal edge extensions of said adjacent panels during articulation thereof, and an up-bow in said longitudinal edge extensions to prevent sagging that could result in interference between longitudinal edge extensions of said adjacent panels when said panels are substantially in the horizontal position.
2 . A sectional door according to claim 1 , wherein said up-bow is distributed along the entirety of the longitudinal edge extensions of said panels between said ends thereof.
3 . A sectional door according to claim 1 , wherein said up-bow provides a maximum defection at substantially the longitudinal center of said longitudinal edge extensions.
4 . A sectional door according to claim 3 , wherein said maximum deflection is approximately 1/480 of the length of said panels.
5 . A sectional door according to claim 3 , wherein said maximum deflection is a measurement of the distance between a plane tangential to said center of said longitudinal edge extensions and the ends of said panel in a plane perpendicular to said plane tangential to said center of said longitudinal edge extensions.
6 . A sectional door according to claim 3 , wherein each of said longitudinal edge extensions of said panels have substantially the same maximum deflection.
7 . A sectional door according to claim 3 , wherein said longitudinal edge extensions of said panels have a differing maximum deflection.
8 . A sectional door according to claim 1 , wherein said panels have end stiles located at said ends for enhancing the rigidity of said panels.
9 . A sectional door according to claim 8 , wherein said panels have a center stile located at substantially the longitudinal center of said panels.
10 . A sectional door according to claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal edge extensions of said panels include a generally concave configuration at one of said edge extensions and a generally convex configuration at the other of said edge extensions.
11 . A sectional door according to claim 10 , wherein said longitudinal edge extensions terminate in reinforcing lips extending the length of said panels.
12 . A sectional door panel for a sectional door system comprising, a generally rectangular facer defining the perimeter of the panel, longitudinal edges extending the length of said facer, ends of said facer at the termination of said longitudinal edges, said longitudinal edges having projecting extensions extending away from said facer, and an out-bow in said facer and longitudinal edges extending in a direction opposite said projecting extensions of said longitudinal edges, whereby said out-bow assists in preventing distortion of the panel when positioned in certain orientations.
13 . A sectional door panel according to claim 12 , wherein said out-bow is distributed along the entirety of said facer between said ends thereof.
14 . A sectional door panel according to claim 12 , wherein said out-bow provides a maximum deflection at substantially the longitudinal center of said longitudinal edges.
15 . A sectional door panel according to claim 14 , wherein said maximum deflection is approximately 1/480 of the length of said facer.
16 . A sectional door panel according to claim 14 , wherein said longitudinal edges of said facers have substantially the same maximum deflection.
17 . A sectional door panel according to claim 12 , wherein end stiles are located at said ends for enhancing the rigidity of said facers.
18 . A sectional door panel according to claim 17 , wherein a center stile is located at substantially the longitudinal center of said facer.
19 . A sectional door panel according to claim 12 , wherein one of said projecting extensions is generally concave and the other of said projecting extensions is generally convex.