Track assembly for an overhead door

Abstract

A track assembly for an overhead door ( 10 ) includes a generally vertically positionable track segment ( 14 ) and a generally horizontally positionable track segment ( 15 ). The track segment ( 14 ) includes a curvilinear portion ( 17 ) at one end thereof which is joined to a curvilinear portion ( 21 ) of the track segment ( 15 ) by a bracket ( 30 ). The curvilinear portion ( 17 ) of the track segment ( 14 ) has a smaller radius of curvature than the curvilinear portion ( 21 ) of the track segment ( 15 ). The bracket ( 30 ) has tabs ( 40 ) which are received in a slot aperture ( 42 ) in the curvilinear portion ( 17 ) to attach it to the bracket ( 30 ), and the bracket ( 30 ) has a lug ( 41 ) which is received in a slot ( 44 ) in the curvilinear portion ( 21 ) to attach it to the bracket ( 30 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A track assembly for an overhead door comprising a generally vertically positionable first track segment including a generally straight portion and a curvilinear portion having a first radius of curvature, a generally horizontally positionable second track segment including a generally straight portion and a curvilinear portion having a second radius of curvature, said second radius of curvature being larger than said first radius of curvature, and means to attach said curvilinear portion of said first track segment to said curvilinear portion of said second track segment.  
     
     
         2 . The track assembly of  claim 1  wherein said means to attach includes a bracket having a face to be secured to said curvilinear portions.  
     
     
         3 . The track assembly of  claim 2  wherein the track assembly is supported by a frame and said bracket has a flange adapted to be attached to the frame.  
     
     
         4 . The track assembly of  claim 2  wherein said face includes opposed tabs and said curvilinear portion of one of said track segments includes a slot aperture, said tabs being received through a portion of said slot aperture and then said bracket being rotatable relative to said one track segment to attach said one track segment to said bracket.  
     
     
         5 . The track assembly of  claim 2  wherein said face includes a lug and said curvilinear portion of one of said track segments includes a slot to receive said lug.  
     
     
         6 . The track assembly of  claim 5  wherein said face includes opposed tabs and said curvilinear portion of the other of said first track segments includes a slot aperture, said tabs being received through a portion of said slot aperture and then said bracket is being rotatable relative to said other track segment to attach said other track segment to said bracket.  
     
     
         7 . The track assembly of  claim 5  wherein said slot is tapered from a first end having a larger opening to a second end having a smaller opening.  
     
     
         8 . The track assembly of  claim 7  wherein said lug is received through said first end of said slot and said one track segment is moved relative to said bracket to position said lug in said second end of said slot.  
     
     
         9 . The track assembly of  claim 1  wherein said track segments are U-shaped in end profile, the end of said curvilinear portion of one of said track segments having an enlarged U-shaped end profile to receive the end of said curvilinear portion of the other of said track segments.  
     
     
         10 . The track assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first radius of curvature is in the range of approximately four inches to approximately eight inches.  
     
     
         11 . The track assembly of  claim 10  wherein said second radius of curvature is in the range of approximately fifty inches to approximately eighty inches.  
     
     
         12 . The track assembly of  claim 1  wherein said second radius of curvature is in the range of approximately fifty inches to approximately eighty inches.  
     
     
         13 . The track assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first radius of curvature is approximately four inches and said curvilinear portion of said first track segment extends for approximately sixty-eight degrees.  
     
     
         14 . The track assembly of  claim 13  wherein said second radius of curvature is approximately seventy-one inches and said curvilinear portion of said second track segment extends for approximately twenty-two degrees.  
     
     
         15 . The track assembly of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of said second radius of curvature to said first radius of curvature is in the range of approximately twenty-to-one to approximately six-to-one.  
     
     
         16 . A track assembly for the rollers of an overhead door comprising a first track segment having a generally straight portion and a curvilinear portion having a first radius of curvature, and a second track segment having a generally straight portion and a curvilinear portion having a second radius of curvature, said curvilinear portions of said track segments being attached to each other in such a way so as to form a continuous track for the rollers, the ratio of said second radius of curvature to said first radius of curvature being in the range of approximately twenty-to-one to approximately six-to-one.  
     
     
         17 . The track assembly of  claim 16  wherein said first radius of curvature is approximately four inches and said second radius of curvature is approximately seventy-one inches.  
     
     
         18 . The track assembly of  claim 17  wherein said curvilinear portion of said first track segment extends over approximately sixty-eight degrees and said curvilinear portion of said second track segment extends over approximately twenty-two degrees.  
     
     
         19 . The track assembly of  claim 16  wherein said track segments are U-shaped in end profile, the end of said curvilinear portion of one of said track segments having an enlarged U-shaped end profile to receive the end of said curvilinear portion of the other of said track segments to provide the continuous track for the rollers.  
     
     
         20 . A track assembly for an overhead door comprising a first track segment having a generally straight portion and a curvilinear portion having a first radius of curvature, a second track segment having a generally straight portion and a curvilinear portion having a second radius of curvature, and a bracket being attachable to said curvilinear portion of said first track segment and being attachable to said curvilinear portion of said second track segment so as to attach said first and second track segments to each other.  
     
     
         21 . The track assembly of  claim 20  wherein said bracket includes opposed tabs and said curvilinear portion of said first track segment includes a slot aperture, said tabs being received through a portion of said slot aperture and then said bracket being rotatable relative to said first track segment to attach said first track segment to said bracket.  
     
     
         22 . The track assembly of  claim 21  wherein said bracket includes a lug and said curvilinear portion of said second track segment includes a slot to receive said lug.  
     
     
         23 . The track assembly of  claim 22  wherein said slot is tapered from a first end having a larger opening to a second end having a smaller opening.  
     
     
         24 . The track assembly of  claim 23  wherein said lug is received through said first end of said slot and said second track segment is moved relative to said bracket to position said lug in said second end of said slot.  
     
     
         25 . The track assembly of  claim 24  wherein said track segments are U-shaped in end profile, the end of said curvilinear portion of said first track segment having an enlarged U-shaped end profile to receive the end of said curvilinear portion of said second track segment when said second track segment is moved relative to said bracket.