US3722141A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Overhead door operator release
Assignee: VEMCO PROD INC US
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Filing: 1971-05-28
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A traveler for an overhead garage door operator with a linear power shuttle, a guide track and an actuator arm for raising and lowering a door. The traveler is connected to the actuator arm and carried by the track for reciprocating movement thereon. A biased latch connects the traveler to the power shuttle to open and close the door in normal operation, releases the traveler from the shuttle to facilitate manual opening and closing of the door, and automatically re-connects the traveler with the shuttle.
Inventors
- 👤 H Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:55
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; E05Y2201/656; E05Y2800/00; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/10; E05Y2900/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
359 words
A traveler adapted to use in a door operating mechanism with a linear power shuttle having a closed driving loop, a tubular guide track extending generally parallel to the path of travel of the power shuttle closed driving loop, and an actuator arm adapted to be connected to a door to raise and lower the door comprising: a one-piece body of a plastic material carried by the guide track for generally longitudinal movement thereon, means adapted to connect said body to the actuator arm, a bolt adapted to be connected in the closed driving loop of the power shuttle for reciprocating movement in the closed driving loop by the power shuttle, guide means integral with said body and adapted to slidably receive and allow said bolt and a portion of the closed driving loop to pass therethrough, a latch carried by said body for generally rEciprocal movement in a path extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of said bolt when received in said guide means and adapted to releasably engage and retain said bolt within said guide means for reciprocating movement of said body with said bolt by the power shuttle without ever retaining any other portion of the closed driving loop when it passes through said body when said bolt is released by said latch, and biasing means continuously yieldably urging said latch into said guide means and into engagement with said bolt when received in said guide means for automatically retaining said bolt whenever said bolt is received in said guide means, whereby when said bolt is retained by said latch in said guide means, the power shuttle will reciprocate said body to move the actuator arm and open and close the door, and said latch can release said bolt so that said body can move with respect to said bolt and the closed driving loop of the power shuttle to allow the door to be manually moved without disconnecting the actuator arm from said body and will automatically reconnect said body with said bolt when said bolt reenters said body to recouple said body with the closed loop of the power shuttle for reciprocation thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
359 words
A traveler adapted to use in a door operating mechanism with a linear power shuttle having a closed driving loop, a tubular guide track extending generally parallel to the path of travel of the power shuttle closed driving loop, and an actuator arm adapted to be connected to a door to raise and lower the door comprising: a one-piece body of a plastic material carried by the guide track for generally longitudinal movement thereon, means adapted to connect said body to the actuator arm, a bolt adapted to be connected in the closed driving loop of the power shuttle for reciprocating movement in the closed driving loop by the power shuttle, guide means integral with said body and adapted to slidably receive and allow said bolt and a portion of the closed driving loop to pass therethrough, a latch carried by said body for generally rEciprocal movement in a path extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of said bolt when received in said guide means and adapted to releasably engage and retain said bolt within said guide means for reciprocating movement of said body with said bolt by the power shuttle without ever retaining any other portion of the closed driving loop when it passes through said body when said bolt is released by said latch, and biasing means continuously yieldably urging said latch into said guide means and into engagement with said bolt when received in said guide means for automatically retaining said bolt whenever said bolt is received in said guide means, whereby when said bolt is retained by said latch in said guide means, the power shuttle will reciprocate said body to move the actuator arm and open and close the door, and said latch can release said bolt so that said body can move with respect to said bolt and the closed driving loop of the power shuttle to allow the door to be manually moved without disconnecting the actuator arm from said body and will automatically reconnect said body with said bolt when said bolt reenters said body to recouple said body with the closed loop of the power shuttle for reciprocation thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
336 words
In combination, an overhead garage door operating mechanism with a tubular guide track and a linear reciprocating power shuttle operating an actuator arm adapted to be connected to a door to raise and lower the door, a traveler having a one-piece body of a plastic material having a bore therethrough slidably receiving said guide track for reciprocal movement of said body thereon, means adapted to pivotally connect said body to said actuator arm, an elongate bolt connected to said power shuttle for reciprocating movement therewith, said bolt having a reduced diameter intermediate its ends providing a notch with a pair of spaced generally opposed shoulders adapted to slidably receive said latch therebetween, a guide bore through said body adapted to slidably receive and allow said bolt to pass therethrough, a movable latch carried by said body for generally reciprocal movement in a path extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of said bolt when received in said guide bore and adapted to engage and releasably retain said bolt in said guide bore of said body, and biasing means continuously yieldably urging said latch into said guide bore and into retaining engagement with said bolt by extending into said notch when said bolt is received in said guide bore with said notch aligned with said latch for automatically retaining said bolt whenever said bolt is received in said guide bore with said notch in alignment with said latch, whereby when said bolt is retained by said latch in said body, said power shuttle will reciprocate said body on said guide track to move said actuator arm to open and close the door and said latch can disengage from said bolt so that said body can move with respect to said bolt and the power shuttle to allow the door to be manually moved without disconnecting the actuator arm from said body and will automatically reconnect said body with said bolt when said bolt reenters said body to recouple said body with the power shuttle for reciprocation thereby.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
336 words
In combination, an overhead garage door operating mechanism with a tubular guide track and a linear reciprocating power shuttle operating an actuator arm adapted to be connected to a door to raise and lower the door, a traveler having a one-piece body of a plastic material having a bore therethrough slidably receiving said guide track for reciprocal movement of said body thereon, means adapted to pivotally connect said body to said actuator arm, an elongate bolt connected to said power shuttle for reciprocating movement therewith, said bolt having a reduced diameter intermediate its ends providing a notch with a pair of spaced generally opposed shoulders adapted to slidably receive said latch therebetween, a guide bore through said body adapted to slidably receive and allow said bolt to pass therethrough, a movable latch carried by said body for generally reciprocal movement in a path extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of said bolt when received in said guide bore and adapted to engage and releasably retain said bolt in said guide bore of said body, and biasing means continuously yieldably urging said latch into said guide bore and into retaining engagement with said bolt by extending into said notch when said bolt is received in said guide bore with said notch aligned with said latch for automatically retaining said bolt whenever said bolt is received in said guide bore with said notch in alignment with said latch, whereby when said bolt is retained by said latch in said body, said power shuttle will reciprocate said body on said guide track to move said actuator arm to open and close the door and said latch can disengage from said bolt so that said body can move with respect to said bolt and the power shuttle to allow the door to be manually moved without disconnecting the actuator arm from said body and will automatically reconnect said body with said bolt when said bolt reenters said body to recouple said body with the power shuttle for reciprocation thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 2 in which said power shuttle has a closed loop and said bolt comprises a turn-buckle connected to the closed loop to adjust the length thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 2 in which said body has a groove therein slidably receiving said latch for generally longitudinal movement with respect to said body generally transversely to the axis of said guide bore.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 3 in which said body has a groove therein slidably receiving said latch for generally longitudinal movement with respect to said body generally transversely to the axis of said guide bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination of claim 4 in which said one-piece body has a depending integral homogeneous arm with a slot therethrough adapted to receive One end of the actuator arm therein for pivotal movement with respect to said body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination of claim 5 in which said one-piece body has a depending integral homogeneous arm with a slot therethrough adapted to receive one end of the actuator arm therein for pivotal movement with respect to said body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
121 words
The combination of claim 2 in which said body has a groove therein for slidably receiving said latch for generally longitudinal movement with respect to said body generally transversely to the axis of said guide bore, said latch comprises an elongate member having a generally flat portion slidably received in said groove with an end of said flat portion adapted to be removably received in said reduced diameter portion of said bolt between said generally opposed shoulders of said bolt, said flat portion having a generally longitudinal elongate slot therethrough and said biasing means comprising a spring received in said slot and bearing on said elongate member to yieldably urge said end thereof into said reduced diameter portion of said bolt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 8 which also comprises a bracket fixed to said body and adapted to retain said elongate member in said groove and said spring in said elongate member.
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) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |