Self-storing vertical lift door system
View Patent ↗A vertical lift, self-storing door system includes a plurality of panels supported by a first and a second single track guide rail which engages guide rollers associated with the panels. The guide rail has a vertical segment which defines a closed position of the door and a horizontal segment which defines an open, storage position for the door. When the door is closed, the individual panels are stacked in an edge-to-edge relationship so that their front faces are coplanar. When the door is in an open position, the panels hang vertically from the guide rails in a spaced apart, generally plane parallel relationship with regard to their front and rear faces. Bevels in the top and bottom edges of the panels accommodate panel motion and ensure a tight seal when the door is in a closed position, and these bevels may include connecting features such as notches or tabs.
1. A multiple panel, self-storing, vertical lift door system comprising:
a first and a second single track guide rail, each guide rail having a vertical segment and a horizontal segment;
a plurality of door panels, each panel having a front face, a back face, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, each panel having a first guide roller supported on said first side edge, said first guide roller being engageable with said first guide rail so as to be displaceable therealong, each panel further including a second guide roller supported on said second side edge, said second guide roller being engageable with said second guide rail so as to be displaceable therealong; wherein when said guide rollers are engaged with the horizontal segment of their respective guide rails, they support said panels in a vertical relationship so that the bottom edges of the panels are in a coplanar relationship and the front edges of the panels are in a plane parallel relationship, and so that when the rollers are engaged with the vertical segment of their respective guide rails, they support said panels in a vertical relationship so that the front faces of the panels are in a coplanar relationship and the bottom edges of the panels are in a plane parallel relationship;
a plurality of primary connector links disposed and operative to pivotally connect the first edge of one of said panels to the first edge of another, adjoining one of said panels, and the second edge of said one of said panels to the second edge of said adjoining one of said panels;
a plurality of secondary connector links, each secondary connector link being pivotally affixed to one of said panels in a plane parallel relationship with a corresponding one of said primary connector links; and
a drive system for moving said plurality of panels and their associated rollers along said first and second tracks between said vertical segment and said horizontal segment; whereby when said panels are disposed in said vertical segment, said door is in a closed position and when said panels are disposed in said horizontal segment, said door is in an open, storage, position.
2. The door system of claim 1 , wherein said panels each include a first bracket which at least partially defines said first side edge of said panel, and a second bracket which at least partially defines said second side edge of said panel.
3. The door system of claim 2 , wherein said panels each include a facing member which is attached to said first and second brackets, said facing member at least partially defining the top edge, the bottom edge, the first face, and the back face of said panel.
4. The door system of claim 2 , wherein at least one of said first roller and one of said plurality of primary connector links is supported by said first bracket, and wherein at least one of said second roller and one of said primary connector links is supported by said second bracket.
5. The door system of claim 1 , wherein the top edge and the bottom edge of at least some of said panels are beveled.
6. The door system of claim 5 , wherein at least some of said bevels include a coupling feature.
7. The door system of claim 1 , wherein at least some of said panels include a retention roller which is operative to retain said panel in a spaced apart relationship with a support surface when the door is in a closed position.
8. The door system of claim 7 , further including a support rail which is disposed so as to contact said retention roller.
9. The door system of claim 1 , wherein said drive system includes an electric motor.
10. The door system of claim 1 , further including a remote control for activating said drive system.