US3630094A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drive mechanism engaging means
Assignee: Philips Home Products Inc
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Filing: 1969-12-22
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1989-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A drive mechanism engaging means is disclosed which may be used for a garage door operator to engage and disengage a chain as an example of a flexible drive member which is driven from a motor and speed-reducing drive train. The engaging means selectively engages and disengages a drive carriage from the chain so that in the event of electrical power failure, for example, the load carriage may be disengaged from the chain so that the garage door, which is fixed to the load carriage, may be manually operated to open and close the door. The engaging means may be actuated by a handle to be moved against a yieldable spring to stress the spring and thus release the load carriage from connection with the chain. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvin J Carli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:12
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05F; E05F15/00; E05F15/60; E05F15/603; E05F15/665; E05F15/668; E05F15/681; E05F15/684; E05Y; E05Y2201/00; E05Y2201/20; E05Y2201/214; E05Y2201/60; E05Y2201/622; E05Y2201/644; E05Y2201/646; E05Y2800/00; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/10; E05Y2900/106; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/18832; Y10T74/1884
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A drive mechanism for a load comprising, in combination, a frame, a motor on said frame, a speed-reducing drive train on said frame and having an input from said motor, a flexible drive member drivingly connected to said rotatable output, a load carriage, means for longitudinally guiding movements of said carriage generally parallel to a portion of said flexible drive member, means for attaching said load carriage to a load to be moved, a chain having links included in said flexible drive member, narrowed waists between enlarged ends on said chain links, and engaging means selectively engaging and disengaging said load carriage and said chain at a narrowed waist to transmit force lengthwise of said chain to said carriage by abutment of an enlarged end of a link with said engaging means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A drive mechanism for a load comprising, in combination, a frame, a motor on said frame, a speed-reducing drive train on said frame and having an input from said motor, a flexible drive member drivingly connected to said rotatable output, a load carriage, means for longitudinally guiding movements of said carriage generally parallel to a portion of said flexible drive member, means for attaching said load carriage to a load to be moved, a chain having links included in said flexible drive member, narrowed waists between enlarged ends on said chain links, and engaging means selectively engaging and disengaging said load carriage and said chain at a narrowed waist to transmit force lengthwise of said chain to said carriage by abutment of an enlarged end of a link with said engaging means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said chain has pivots between links, and said engaging means moves substantially parallel to said pivots between engaged and disengaged conditions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
160 words
A drive mechanism for a load comprising, in combination, a frame, a motor on said frame, a speed-reducing drive train on said frame and having an input from said motor, a rotatable output on said drive train, a flexible drive member drivingly connected to said rotatable output, a load carriage, means for longitudinally guiding movements of said carriage generally parallel to a portion of said flexible drive member, means for attaching said load carriage to a load to be moved, a chain having links included in said flexible drive member, engaging means selectively engaging and disengaging said load carriage and said chain, said chain engaging means including three vertically spaced horizontal flanges on said carriage, vertically aligned apertures in said flanges, a vertical lock bar slidable and rotatable in said vertically aligned apertures, and a handle on the lower end of said lock bar to move said lock bar in said apertures to a disengaged condition relative to said chain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
160 words
A drive mechanism for a load comprising, in combination, a frame, a motor on said frame, a speed-reducing drive train on said frame and having an input from said motor, a rotatable output on said drive train, a flexible drive member drivingly connected to said rotatable output, a load carriage, means for longitudinally guiding movements of said carriage generally parallel to a portion of said flexible drive member, means for attaching said load carriage to a load to be moved, a chain having links included in said flexible drive member, engaging means selectively engaging and disengaging said load carriage and said chain, said chain engaging means including three vertically spaced horizontal flanges on said carriage, vertically aligned apertures in said flanges, a vertical lock bar slidable and rotatable in said vertically aligned apertures, and a handle on the lower end of said lock bar to move said lock bar in said apertures to a disengaged condition relative to said chain.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 3, including a cross pin in said lock bar disposed below said second flange, and a compression spring encircling said lock bar and disposed between said third flange and said cross pin to urge said lock bar upwardly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 4, including said first and second flanges lying above and below one run of said chain, a vertical wall between said first and second flanges, an undulating surface with a crest on said vertical wall to lie closely adjacent the links of said chain, said chain links having narrowed waists between enlarged ends, and said lock bar when disposed in the apertures in said first and second flanges defining relative to the crest of said undulating surface a transverse horizontal dimension greater than the transverse dimension of the narrowed waist of the links of the chain and less than the dimension across the enlarged ends of the links of said chain.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 4, including a latch wall spaced between said second and third flanges, a notch in said latch wall adapted to be engaged by said cross pin upon said lock bar being moved longitudinally to stress said compression spring and move said lock bar to a disengaged position relative to said chain and then said lock bar being rotated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 6, including a cam wall on each side of said notch and cooperable with said cross pin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
A load carriage for use with a drive mechanism having a chain with links driving a load relative to a frame, said chain links having narrowed waists between enlarged ends, said load cArriage comprising, in combination, means guiding movement of said load carriage on the frame generally parallel to a portion of the chain, means for attaching said load carriage to a load to be moved, and engaging means selectively engaging and disengaging said load carriage and the chain at a narrowed waist to transmit force lengthwise of the chain to said carriage by abutment of an enlarged end of a link with said engaging means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
A load carriage for use with a drive mechanism having a chain with links driving a load relative to a frame, said chain links having narrowed waists between enlarged ends, said load cArriage comprising, in combination, means guiding movement of said load carriage on the frame generally parallel to a portion of the chain, means for attaching said load carriage to a load to be moved, and engaging means selectively engaging and disengaging said load carriage and the chain at a narrowed waist to transmit force lengthwise of the chain to said carriage by abutment of an enlarged end of a link with said engaging means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
126 words
A load carriage for use with a drive mechanism having a chain with links driving a load relative to a frame, said load carriage comprising, in combination, means guiding movement of said load carriage on the frame generally parallel to a portion of the chain, means for attaching said load carriage to a load to be moved, engaging means selectively engaging and disengaging said load carriage and the chain, the chain-engaging means including three vertically spaced horizontal flanges on said carriage, vertically aligned apertures in said flanges, a vertical lock bar slidable and rotatable in said vertically aligned apertures, and a handle on the lower end of said lock bar to move said lock bar in said apertures to a disengaged condition relative to the chain.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
A load carriage for use with a drive mechanism having a chain with links driving a load relative to a frame, said load carriage comprising, in combination, means guiding movement of said load carriage on the frame generally parallel to a portion of the chain, means for attaching said load carriage to a load to be moved, engaging means selectively engaging and disengaging said load carriage and the chain, the chain-engaging means including three vertically spaced horizontal flanges on said carriage, vertically aligned apertures in said flanges, a vertical lock bar slidable and rotatable in said vertically aligned apertures, and a handle on the lower end of said lock bar to move said lock bar in said apertures to a disengaged condition relative to the chain.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 9, including a cross pin in said lock bar disposed below said second flange, and a compression spring encircling said lock bar and disposed between said third flange and said cross pin to urge said lock bar upwardly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
118 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 10, including said first and second flanges lying above and below one run of the chain, a vertical wall between said first and second flanges, an undulating surface with a crest on said vertical wall to lie closely adjacent the links of the chain, the chain links having narrowed waists between enlarged ends, said lock bars when disposed in the apertures in said first and second flanges defining relative to the crest of said undulating surface a transverse horizontal dimension greater than the transverse dimension of the narrowed waist of the links of the chain and less than the dimension across the enlarged ends of the links of the chain.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 10, including a latch wall spaced between said second and third flanges, a notch in said latch wall adapted to be engaged by said cross pin upon said lock bar being moved longitudinally to stress said compression spring and move said lock bar to a disengaged position relative to the chain and then said lock bar being rotated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 12, including a cam wall on each side of said notch and cooperable with said cross pin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |