Automatic balanced door with concealed drive

Claim 2

In combination with a balanced door having a door frame comprising a header and side jambs forming an opening, at least one of said side jambs and said header defining interior volumes, a hinge shaft mounted in one of said side jambs, a door provided in said opening, lever means connecting said hinge shaft and said door, means for effecting opening and closing of said door comprising a door operator mounted within said header, a prime mover provided within said header and operatively engaged to said door operator, an output shaft provided on said door operator, said output shaft being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis parallel to the axis of said hinge shaft, an elongated rod extending lengthwise of said header, first means engaging one end of said rod to said output shaft, and second means engaging the other end of said rod operatively to said hinge shaft.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said first means engaging said rod to said output shaft comprising a crank fixed to said output shaft for rotation therewith and a rod end interengaging said rod and said crank, said second means connecting the other end of said rod to said hinge shaft comprising a hinge shaft extension presented in axially perpendicular relationship to said rod, a crank mounted on said extension, and a rod connector engaging said crank to the proximate end of said rod, whereby upon rotation of said output shaft said rod will be moved axially for effecting rotation of said hinge shaft through the said connections.

Claim 4

In combination with a balanced door having a door frame comprising a header and side jambs forming an opening, at least one of said side jambs and said header defining interior volumes, a hinge shaft mounted in one of said side jambs, a door provided in said opening, lever means connecting said hinge shaft and said door, means for effecting opening and closing of said door comprising a door operator mounted within said header, a prime mover provided within said header and operatively engaged to said door operator, means disposed within said header connecting said door operator and said hinge shaft, door control means comprising a latch assembly mounted in said header and being in normally unlatched condition, a guide roller mounted on said door moveable within said header toward said latch assembly upon opening swinging of said door, and means engageable by said guide roller and operatively interengaged with said latch assembly locking the latter responsive to engagement with said guide roller.

Claim 5

In combination with a balanced door having a door frame comprising a header and side jambs forming an opening, at least one of said side jambs and said header defining interior volumes, a hinge shaft mounted in one of said side jambs, a door provided in said opening, lever means connecting said hinge shaft and said door, means for effecting opening and closing of said door comprising a door operator mounted within said header, a prime mover provided within said header and operatively engaged to said door operator, means disposed within said header connecting said door operator and said hinge shaft, door control means comprising a latch assembly mounted in said header and being in normally unlatched condition, a guide roller mounted on said door moveable within said header toward said latch assembly upon opening swinging of said door, and means engageable by said guide roller and operatively interengaged with said latch assembly locking the latter responsive to engagement with said guide roller.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by a source of electrical power, normally closed switch means connecting said source of power and said prime mover, and means for opening said switch means responsive to locking of said latch assembly.

Claim 7

In combination with a balanced door having a door frame comprising a header and side jambs forming an opening, at least one of said side jambs and said header defining interior volumes, a hinge shaft mounted in one of said side jambs, a door provided in said opening, lever means connecting said hinge shaft and said door, means for effecting opening and closing of said door comprising a door operator mounted within said header, a prime mover provided within said header and operatively engaged to said door operator, and means disposed within said header connecting said door operator and said hinge shaft, door control means comprising a latch assembly mounted in said header, a guide roller mounted on said door moveable within said header toward said latch assembly upon opening swing of said door, said latch assembly comprising a swingably mounted cam, said caM being presented for engagement with said guide roller, a latch arm, means urging said latch arm normally into unlatched condition, said latch arm being engaged to said cam whereby upon swinging of said cam through engagement with said guide roller said latch arm will be moved into latched condition, and means for maintaining said arm in such latched condition.

Claim 8

In combination with a balanced door having a door frame comprising a header and side jambs forming an opening, at least one of said side jambs and said header defining interior volumes, a hinge shaft mounted in one of said side jambs, a door provided in said opening, lever means connecting said hinge shaft and said door, means for effecting opening and closing of said door comprising a door operator mounted within said header, a prime mover provided within said header and operatively engaged to said door operator, and means disposed within said header connecting said door operator and said hinge shaft, door control means comprising a latch assembly mounted in said header, a guide roller mounted on said door moveable within said header toward said latch assembly upon opening swing of said door, said latch assembly comprising a swingably mounted cam, said caM being presented for engagement with said guide roller, a latch arm, means urging said latch arm normally into unlatched condition, said latch arm being engaged to said cam whereby upon swinging of said cam through engagement with said guide roller said latch arm will be moved into latched condition, and means for maintaining said arm in such latched condition.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 5 and further characterized by a source of electrical power, normally closed switch means connecting said source of power and said prime mover, a switch control member provided in said latch assembly and connected to said switch means, said switch control being presented in the path of movement of said latch arm for engagement by the latter when moving into latched condition for opening of said switch means.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 5 and further characterized by said latch arm maintaining means comprising a solenoid, an armature slideable within said solenoid and means for connecting said armature and said latch arm.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by means for maintaining said solenoid in energized, armature-attracting state for a predetermined period of time.

Claim 12

In combination with a balanced door having a door frame comprising a header and side jambs forming an opening, at least one of said side jambs and said header defining interior volumes, a hinge shaft mounted in one of said side jambs, a door provided in said opening, lever means connecting said hinge shaft and said door, means for effecting opening and closing of said door comprising a door operator mounted within said header, a prime mover provided within said header and operatively engaged to said door operator, said door having an opening in its upper portion, a discrete mounting block detachably received within said opening in said door, a guide roller carried upon the upper portion of said block for extension into said header, first and second readily disengageable cooperating means provided at each end portion of said opening of said door and on each end of said mounting block for normally mounting same in operative position and for allowing facile dislodgement of said block from said door upon application thereon of an applied force in a predetermined direction.

Claim 13

In combination with a balanced door having a door frame comprising a header and side jambs forming an opening, at least one of said side jambs and said header defining interior volumes, a hinge shaft mounted in one of said side jambs, a door provided in said opening, lever means connecting said hinge shaft and said door, means for effecting opening and closing of said door comprising a door operator mounted within said header, a prime mover provided within said header and operatively engaged to said door operator, said door having an opening in its upper portion, a discrete mounting block detachably received within said opening in said door, a guide roller carried upon the upper portion of said block for extension into said header, first and second readily disengageable cooperating means provided at each end portion of said opening of said door and on each end of said mounting block for normally mounting same in operative position and for allowing facile dislodgement of said block from said door upon application thereon of an applied force in a predetermined direction.

Claim 14

The combination as defined in claim 9 and further characterized by said first cooperating means comprising said block having a recess at one end, a spring biased member mounted on said door at one end of said opening of said door for normal projection into said block recess, said second cooperating means comprising a rigid upright member provided at the other end of said opening of said door, said block having an indentation formed in its end face confronting said upright member and being complementary thereto for receiving same, the end faces of said block having a horizontal inclination in the same direction so that upon application of the said force the said block will simultaneously lose engagement with said spring biased member and said rigid upright member for complete removal from said opening of said door.