US4601131A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Counterbalance spring means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-11-02
•
Granted: 1986-07-22
•
Expires: 2004-11-02
Abstract
Abstract A spring assembly for use in place of the spiral tension springs in conventional spring-loaded counterbalancing systems for garage doors. It is made up of a compression spring and traveling pulley in a tubular housing, the compression spring being mounted above the pulley. A cable extends around the pulley from an anchored end to interconnection with the kicker assembly of the mounting hardware for tension springs in an ordinary garage door counterbalancing system so that closing of the door causes the cable to pull up on the pulley and compress the spring. There is virtually no possibility that the compressed spring will rupture and emit flying fragments, but even if this occurred the housing would prevent the escape of such fragments to the surroundings.
Inventors
- 👤 Roland Ozols
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 03:48
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05F; E05F1/00; E05F1/08; E05F1/10; E05F1/1041; E05F1/105; E05F1/1058; E05D; E05D15/00; E05D15/40; E05D15/46; E05D15/463; E05D13/00; E05D13/10; E05D13/12; E05D13/123; E05D13/1238; E05Y; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/10; E05Y2900/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
Spring means particularly adapted for use in place of spiral tension spring means in a conventional spring-loaded counterbalancing system with a kicker assembly for a garage door of the type designed to swing between a vertical closed position and a horizontal overhead open position, said spring means comprising, when installed for use: a spiral compression spring; a steeply sloping tubular housing for said spiral compression spring within which the spring is disposed in freely compressible condition; a pulley disposed beneath the spiral compression spring in said tubular housing and adapted to move freely in the longitudinal direction therewithin; a cable adapted to fit said pulley and means securing one end thereof against movement relative to said tubular housing at a point above the bottom of said compression spring, said cable being looped down around said pulley from its secured end and having its other end extending from the tubular housing and connected to said kicker assembly; cooperating means permitting compression of said spiral compression spring by upward movement of said pulley in the tubular housing; whereby closing of the garage door causes the kicker assembly to pull the cable upwardly and thereby raise the pulley within said tubular housing to compress said compression spring, and opening of the door is facilitated by properly directed pulling force thereon exerted through the pulley and cable by the expanding compression spring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
Spring means particularly adapted for use in place of spiral tension spring means in a conventional spring-loaded counterbalancing system with a kicker assembly for a garage door of the type designed to swing between a vertical closed position and a horizontal overhead open position, said spring means comprising, when installed for use: a spiral compression spring; a steeply sloping tubular housing for said spiral compression spring within which the spring is disposed in freely compressible condition; a pulley disposed beneath the spiral compression spring in said tubular housing and adapted to move freely in the longitudinal direction therewithin; a cable adapted to fit said pulley and means securing one end thereof against movement relative to said tubular housing at a point above the bottom of said compression spring, said cable being looped down around said pulley from its secured end and having its other end extending from the tubular housing and connected to said kicker assembly; cooperating means permitting compression of said spiral compression spring by upward movement of said pulley in the tubular housing; whereby closing of the garage door causes the kicker assembly to pull the cable upwardly and thereby raise the pulley within said tubular housing to compress said compression spring, and opening of the door is facilitated by properly directed pulling force thereon exerted through the pulley and cable by the expanding compression spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Spring means in accordance with claim 1 in which said tubular housing has two pairs of facing walls and is of generally square cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
Spring means in accordance with claim 2 which includes a detached top closure for the installed tubular housing against which the upper end of said compression spring abuts when in use, and stop means to prevent the closure from being forced out of the top of the housing by force exerted thereon by the compression spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Spring means in accordance with claim 3 in which said stop means comprises flanges formed by inturned portions of the tops of the housing walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
Spring means in accordance with claim 4 including a keeper for said pulley and a rod fixedly secured to the top of said keeper, said rod extending coaxially upwardly from said keeper within the installed housing to an upper end, said top closure having an opening sized and positioned to slidably receive said rod and said rod being of a length to extend through said opening in all positions of use.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
Spring means in accordance with claim 5 in which said rod is threaded from its upper end for at least a portion of its length and which includes nut means adapted for threaded engagement with said rod to aid in installation of the spring means and permit adjustment of the pull of the spring means and travel of the cable during usage of said spring means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
Spring means in accordance with claim 6 in which said pulley is mounted within said tubular housing with its axle extending diagonally between two corners of the housing, said axle being of a suitable length and properly beveled around its two ends to guide the pulley in a plane coincident with the other two corners of the housing in its travel path therewithin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Spring means in accordance with claim 7 including bracket means for adjustably securing the bottom of said tubular housing to a garage door frame.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-07-21 | 1990-01-20 | 1990-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-21 | 1994-01-20 | 1994-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-21 | 1998-01-20 | 1998-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |