Retractable door double roller support system

Abstract

The present invention provides a double roller device that is adapted for use with overhead, retractable door constructions using a plurality of hingedly connected panels. The device may comprise a hinge roller assembly having a roller mounting plate with a plurality of rollers fixedly attached to a first face of the mounting plate. A U-shaped shaft of the device is secured to at least one hinge by inserting the shaft into the roller stem mounting tube associated with such hinges. The device of the present invention provides additional support for oversized, heavy door panels or in environments where significant external forces on the door system may be expected.

1 . A retractable door roller support system, the system comprising: 
 at least one roller provided on a first side of a mounting plate; and    a mounting system provided on the other side of the mounting plate having a plurality of arms, wherein the arms are releasably secured into corresponding apertures of the mounting plate, wherein at least one of the arms is used to support a member attached to the retractable door.    
     
     
         2 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 1 , wherein support system further comprises: 
 a threaded pin, wherein the pin is releasably inserted into a longitudinally threaded aperture in the mounting plate to selectively engage at least one of the arms for securing it with the mounting plate.    
     
     
         3 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 2 , wherein each arm has a distal aperture traversing each arm, such that when the arms are received into corresponding apertures of the mounting plate, the pin, when inserted into the longitudinally threaded aperture in the mounting plate, traverses the distal apertures of the arms and releasably secures the plurality of arms to the mounting plate.  
     
     
         4 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of arms are connected to at least one other arm to distribute any load thereon through the at least one other arm.  
     
     
         5 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of arms comprise a mounting shaft which is substantially U-shaped.  
     
     
         6 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the arms is releasably inserted into a roller stem mounting tube of at least one hinge assembly and then releasably secured to the mounting plate.  
     
     
         7 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 6 , wherein at least one hinge assembly is an overhead retractable door hinge.  
     
     
         8 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 6 , wherein the releasably secured mounting shaft provides support for oversized and heavy door panels of a door system.  
     
     
         9 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate is dimensioned to distribute a load from the at least one roller over its surface area.  
     
     
         10 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is capable of accommodating higher loads than a standard roller design.  
     
     
         11 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm supporting at least one hinge connected to the door, and enables free rotation of the at least one arm within a horizontal tube of the hinge, as the at least one roller moves over a guide track portion of a door system when door panels are moved between open and closed positions.  
     
     
         12 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two rollers are provided on the first side of the mounting plate, each of which engages a track of the retractable door.  
     
     
         13 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 11 , wherein the arm has a length to support at least two hinges.  
     
     
         14 . A method of releasably connecting a roller support system to a garage door hinge for a retractable door system, the method comprising: 
 providing a hinge, wherein the hinge comprises: 
 a first and second hinged plate portion, each having a pair of spaced, upstanding portions supporting a horizontal bearing tube;  
   providing the roller support system, wherein the support system comprises: 
 at least one roller attached to a first side of a mounting plate; and  
 a substantially U-shaped mounting shaft having a plurality of arms;  
   releasably inserting one of the arms of the mounting shaft through the horizontal bearing tube of the hinge;    attaching the plurality of arms to the mounting plate; and    mounting the at least one roller in a track of the retractable door system.    
     
     
         15 . A retractable door roller support system, the system comprising: 
 a roller mounting plate with at least one roller attached to a first face of the mounting plate; and    a substantially U-shaped shaft, wherein the shaft is releasably secured to extend from a second face of the mounting plate.    
     
     
         16 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 15 , wherein the U-shaped shaft is secured to at least one standard hinge assembly.  
     
     
         17 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 16 , wherein the U-shaped shaft is inserted through a roller stem mounting tube of the standard hinge assembly.  
     
     
         18 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 17 , wherein the arm has a length to support at least two hinges.  
     
     
         19 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 15 , wherein at least two rollers are provided in association with the mounting plate.  
     
     
         20 . The retractable door roller support system of  claim 15 , wherein the axis of the U-shaped shaft is positioned in spaced relation to the plane of the retractable door system.