US3890744A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Patio door operator
Assignee: GALIS MARTIN A
•
Filing: 1974-03-01
•
Granted: 1975-06-24
•
Expires: 1994-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A patio door operating unit comprises a housing which mounts on the floor beside the location that the door occupies when the sliding door is in its open position. Within the housing in an endless belt which engages the door adjacent its bottom and is trained for movement along a path at the bottom of the door. This belt is driven by an electric motor. There are limit switches to stop the electric motor at the open and closed positions of the door. The belt is tightened by a solenoid connected to the motor circuit so that when the electric power fails the belt is loose and the door can be moved by hand.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin A Galis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:19
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05F; E05F15/00; E05F15/60; E05F15/603; E05F15/632; E05F15/643; E05Y; E05Y2201/00; E05Y2201/20; E05Y2201/214; E05Y2201/216; E05Y2201/218; E05Y2201/23; E05Y2201/246; E05Y2201/40; E05Y2201/46; E05Y2201/462; E05Y2201/47; E05Y2201/60; E05Y2201/622; E05Y2201/644; E05Y2201/652; E05Y2201/658; E05Y2201/668; E05Y2600/00; E05Y2600/10; E05Y2600/13; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/10; E05Y2900/13; E05Y2900/132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
331 words
An apparatus for operating a sliding door unit of the type commonly referred to as a patio door used in a building wherein there is a floor at the bottom of the door unit immediately to one side of the door unit, said door unit being movable between a closed and an open position, and wherein there is a fixed similar unit at the opposite side of said door unit, said door unit having a first end thereof immediately adjacent said similar unit when said door unit is in the closed position and a second end remote from said similar unit when said door unit is in said closed position, said apparatus comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted on said floor immediately at said one side of said door unit when said door unit is in the open position, said housing having an opening on the side thereof adjacent said door unit, said opening being of a length approximately equal to the width of said door unit, electric motor means within said housing and having a generally circular driving member on the output shaft thereof, a flexible endless member, means mounted on the housing and contacting the endless member for training said endless member in a path of movement within the housing, a first position of said path being in engagement with the driving member so that when said motor is running said endless member will move along said path, a second portion of said path being parallel to said opening, and means extending through said opening and having a portion within the housing engaging said endless member and a position outside said housing for engaging said door unit immediately adjacent said first end thereof for causing said door unit to move with said endless member, whereby said apparatus can be readily installed without structural modifications to the building by mounting it on said floor adjacent the position occupied by said door unit when it is in the open position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
331 words
An apparatus for operating a sliding door unit of the type commonly referred to as a patio door used in a building wherein there is a floor at the bottom of the door unit immediately to one side of the door unit, said door unit being movable between a closed and an open position, and wherein there is a fixed similar unit at the opposite side of said door unit, said door unit having a first end thereof immediately adjacent said similar unit when said door unit is in the closed position and a second end remote from said similar unit when said door unit is in said closed position, said apparatus comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted on said floor immediately at said one side of said door unit when said door unit is in the open position, said housing having an opening on the side thereof adjacent said door unit, said opening being of a length approximately equal to the width of said door unit, electric motor means within said housing and having a generally circular driving member on the output shaft thereof, a flexible endless member, means mounted on the housing and contacting the endless member for training said endless member in a path of movement within the housing, a first position of said path being in engagement with the driving member so that when said motor is running said endless member will move along said path, a second portion of said path being parallel to said opening, and means extending through said opening and having a portion within the housing engaging said endless member and a position outside said housing for engaging said door unit immediately adjacent said first end thereof for causing said door unit to move with said endless member, whereby said apparatus can be readily installed without structural modifications to the building by mounting it on said floor adjacent the position occupied by said door unit when it is in the open position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said endless member is a belt, said training means including a plurality of pulleys, said means extending through said opening including a bracket adapted to be affixed to said door unit, said bracket having means gripping said belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
139 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 for use with a source of electric power and including circuit means for connecting said motor means to said source, the improvement comprising: a belt tightener comprising one of said pulleys, means mounting said one pulley for movement in a direction into the belt, the last means including electric power means for, when energized, moving said one pulley in said direction to tighten the belt, and means connecting said electric power means to said circuit means for energizing said electric power means from said source when said motor means is energized to thereby tighten the belt for engagement with said driving member when the motor means is energized and when said source of electric power fails, said electric power means is deenergized and therefore fails to act to tighten said belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said electric power means is a solenoid having an armature, said last means including a pivotally mounted arm, said pulley being mounted on said arm at a distance from the pivot point, means connecting said armature to said arm a distance from said pivot point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
173 words
In an apparatus for operating a sliding door unit or the like, wherein there is an electric motor means, circuit means for connecting the motor means to a source of electric power, and a unit operatiNg device connecting said unit and said electric motor means, said device including an endless belt and pulleys training said belt for movement along a given path, the improvement comprising: a belt tightener comprising one of said pulleys, means mounting said one pulley for movement in a direction into the belt, the last means including electric power means for, when energized, moving said one pulley in said direction to tighten the belt, and means connecting said electric power means to said circuit means for energizing said electric power means from said source when said motor means is energized to thereby tighten the belt for engagement with said driving member when the motor means is energized and when said source of electric power fails, said electric power means is deenergized and therefore fails to act to tighten said belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
173 words
In an apparatus for operating a sliding door unit or the like, wherein there is an electric motor means, circuit means for connecting the motor means to a source of electric power, and a unit operatiNg device connecting said unit and said electric motor means, said device including an endless belt and pulleys training said belt for movement along a given path, the improvement comprising: a belt tightener comprising one of said pulleys, means mounting said one pulley for movement in a direction into the belt, the last means including electric power means for, when energized, moving said one pulley in said direction to tighten the belt, and means connecting said electric power means to said circuit means for energizing said electric power means from said source when said motor means is energized to thereby tighten the belt for engagement with said driving member when the motor means is energized and when said source of electric power fails, said electric power means is deenergized and therefore fails to act to tighten said belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said electric power means is a solenoid having an armature, said last means including a pivotally mounted arm, said pulley being mounted on said arm at a distance from the pivot point, means connecting said armature to said arm a distance from said pivot point.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2334981A
Cited
US3403474A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-23 | 1978-12-23 | 1979-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-23 | 1982-12-23 | 1983-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-23 | 1986-12-23 | 1987-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |