Rollup door with rollable door leaf

Abstract

A rollup door comprising a door leaf of increasing width from top to bottom and having a narrower part on the top and a wider part on the bottom, and flexibility in the rolling direction; channels for guiding the door; and two modules for rolling and unrolling the door leaf so that a number of leaf layers do not come in contact. The modules are situated on each side of the door, have the same center axes and are successive radially enlarged so that on opening and closing of the door, the narrower and wider parts of the leaf engage the smaller and larger parts respectively of the modules.

1 . A rollup door comprising: 
 a door leaf of increasing width from top to bottom, having a narrower part on the top and a wider part on the bottom, the door leaf having flexibility in the rolling direction;    channels for guiding the door;    two modules for rolling and unrolling the door leaf so that a number of leaf layers do not come in contact;    the modules are situated on each side of the door, have the same center axes and are successive radially enlarged so that on opening and closing of the door, the narrower and wider parts of the leaf engage the smaller and larger parts respectively of the modules.    
   
   
       2 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  wherein a rotatable shaft connects the modules.  
   
   
       3 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  wherein each module has the outer shape of a continuous conical spiral.  
   
   
       4 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  wherein each module is a package of parallel disks.  
   
   
       5 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  having a dampener on the surface of the modules or directly on the door leaf.  
   
   
       6 . A rollup door according to  claim 4  wherein the largest diameter in a disk is the same as the smallest diameter in the next larger disk.  
   
   
       7 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  wherein the modules have a solid continuous surface.  
   
   
       8 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  wherein the leaf is attached directly to the modules.  
   
   
       9 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  where the leaf is indirectly attached to the module via a hoisting belt.  
   
   
       10 . A rollup door according to  claim 9  wherein the hoisting belt is attached from top to bottom of the door leaf.  
   
   
       11 . A rollup door according to  claim 2  wherein the shaft carries the initial turn of the door leaf and the module carries subsequent turns of said leaf.  
   
   
       12 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  wherein a door leaf edge is shaped to continuously fit a spiral contour of the module.  
   
   
       13 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  wherein a door leaf edge is stepped to fit the contour of the disk package.  
   
   
       14 . A rollup door according to  claim 4  having a door leaf with one step and a package of two disks.  
   
   
       15 . A rollup door according to  claim 4  having a door leaf with two steps and a package of three disks.  
   
   
       16 . A rollup door according to  claim 4  wherein the number of door leaf steps and the number and dimensions of disks are determined based on the height of the door.  
   
   
       17 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  wherein the door leaf is a flexible sheet material.  
   
   
       18 . A rollup door according to  claim 17  wherein the material is of laminate, reinforced or film construction.  
   
   
       19 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  wherein the door leaf is a series of connected substantially rigid slats giving a flexibility in the rolling direction.  
   
   
       20 . A rollup door according to  claim 19  wherein the slats comprise metallic, polymeric or reinforced materials, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       21 . A rollup door according to  claim 19  wherein the slats have a surface texture.  
   
   
       22 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  wherein the door leaf contains at least one section with properties other than a main part of the leaf.  
   
   
       23 . A rollup door according to  claim 22  wherein the section is a window.  
   
   
       24 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  above wherein the door leaf has edge portions which correspond to the width increase of the door from top to bottom.  
   
   
       25 . A rollup door according to  claim 19  wherein the slats have end pieces inserted therein.  
   
   
       26 . A rollup door according to  claim 25  wherein the end pieces are attached to a hoisting belt.  
   
   
       27 . A rollup door according to  claim 25  wherein the end pieces include a wind anchor.  
   
   
       28 . A rollup door according to  claim 19  wherein a sealing element is located between the slats.  
   
   
       29 . A rollup door according to  claim 28  wherein the sealing element comprises mechanical joints, or glue.  
   
   
       30 . A rollup door according to  claim 28  where the sealing element also serves as a dampener between the slats.  
   
   
       31 . A rollup door according to  claim 28  wherein the sealing element is inserted between slats from a side of the door.  
   
   
       32 . A rollup door according to  claim 28  wherein the sealing element is inserted from an inner rolling side of the door.  
   
   
       33 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  wherein damaged parts are easily replaced from an inner rolling side of the door while the door is mainly in a closed position.  
   
   
       34 . A rollup door according to  claim 19  wherein upon a crash, damaged slats are easily replaced from an inner rolling side of the door while a hoisting belt is in position.  
   
   
       35 . A rollup door according to  claim 1  and further including at least one of a safety edge, sensors, tensioning system, and weight balancing systems.  
   
   
       36 . A method of assembling an overhead door comprising the steps of: 
 providing a door leaf of increasing width from top to bottom, the door leaf having flexibility in the rolling direction;    providing channels for guiding the door; and    providing two conical modules for rolling and unrolling the door leaf so that a number of leaf layers do not come in contact,    the modules are situated on each side of the door, have the same center axes and are successive radially enlarged so that on opening and closing of the door, the narrower and wider parts of the leaf engage the smaller and larger parts respectively of the modules.