Hydraulic leveraged overhead door assembly

Abstract

The present invention is a door assembly including a rectangular door frame, a bi-fold door pivotally mounted at the top of the rectangular door frame and at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly. The hydraulic cylinder assembly is pivotally secured by a first end to a cylinder support mounted on a back side of the door frame, and by a second lower end to a cylinder support secured to a back surface of a top panel of the bi-fold door. In the door closed position, the longitudinal axis of the cylinder is oriented at an acute angle away from a plane defined by the door pivot axis and the lower pivot axis of the cylinder. A hydraulic control assembly controls movement of the door between an open and closed position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-panel door and frame assembly for a rough opening in a building, comprising:
 a mounting frame assembly having a front side and a back side, the mounting frame assembly being mountable within a the rough opening of a the building, the mounting frame including a horizontal frame member, a first vertical frame member secured by a top end to a first end of the horizontal frame member, a second vertical frame member secured by a top end to a second end of the horizontal frame member, and at least one a linearly extendable actuator upper support bracket secured to the back side of the mounting frame assembly, for pivotally engaging an upper end of a linearly extendable actuator for rotation about a linearly extendable actuator upper pivot axis and extending down relative to the horizontal frame member to provide a linearly extendable actuator upper pivot axis that is beneath the horizontal frame member and adjacent to one of the first vertical frame member and the second vertical frame member; 
 a door including an upper panel and at a lower panel, the upper panel having a back surface and a front surface, wherein the upper panel is pivotally secured by a top edge to the mounting frame horizontal frame member for rotation about an upper panel pivot axis, and wherein the upper panel is pivotally secured by a bottom edge to a top edge of the lower panel, and wherein the back surface of the upper panel is associated with the back side of the mounting frame assembly; 
 at least onea linearly extendable actuator lower support bracket secured to and extending rearwardaway from athe back surface of the upper panel for pivotally engaging a lower end of a linearly extendable actuator for rotation aboutto provide a linearly extendable actuator lower pivot axis; 
 at least onea linearly extendable actuator having an upper end and a lower end, pivotally mounted by its upper end to the linearly extendable actuator upper support bracket and pivotally secured by its lower end to the linearly extendable actuator lower support bracket, wherein the linearly extendable actuator upper support bracket is configured to pivotally engage the upper end of the linearly extendable actuator for rotation about the linearly extendable actuator upper pivot axis and the linearly extendable actuator lower support bracket is configured to pivotally engage the lower end of the linearly extendable actuator for rotation about the linearly extendable actuator lower pivot axis; 
 a linearly extendable actuator control assembly in communication with the linearly extendable actuator to control extension and retraction of the linearly extendable actuator to open and close the door; and 
 wherein the linearly extendable actuator upper pivot axis is located below and behind the upper panel pivot axis, and the linearly extendable actuator lower pivot axis is located below and behind the linearly extendable actuator upper pivot axis, when the door is in its closed position at a first distance away from a plane defined by the back surface of the upper panel, the linearly extendable actuator upper pivot axis is located at a second distance away from the plane defined by the back surface of the upper panel, and the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
 
     
     
       2. A bi-fold panel door and mounting frame assembly for a rough opening in a building, comprising:
 a mounting frame assembly having a front and back side, the mounting frame being mountable within a rough opening, the mounting frame including a horizontal frame member and first and second vertical frame members secured to and extending downward from opposite ends of the horizontal frame member, at least one linearly extendable actuator upper support bracket secured to the back side of the mounting frame assembly for pivotally engaging an upper end of a linearly extendable actuator for rotation about a linearly extendable actuator upper pivot axis;   a bi-fold panel door having an upper panel and lower panel, the upper panel having a front and back surface, wherein the upper panel is pivotally secured at a top edge of the upper panel to the mounting frame assembly horizontal member, defining an upper panel pivot axis and wherein the upper panel is pivotally secured by a bottom edge to a top edge of the lower panel;   at least one linearly extendable actuator lower support bracket secured to and extending rearward from a back surface of the upper panel for pivotally engaging a lower end of a linearly extendable actuator for a rotation about a linearly extendable actuator lower pivot axis;   at least one linearly extendable actuator having an upper and lower end, pivotally mounted by its upper end to the linearly extendable actuator upper support bracket and pivotally secured by its lower end to the linearly extendable actuator lower support bracket; and   a linearly extendable actuator control assembly in communication with the linearly extendable actuator to control extension and retraction of the actuator to open and close the bi-fold panel door;   wherein the linearly extendable actuator upper pivot axis is located below and behind the upper panel pivot axis, and the linearly extendable actuator lower pivot axis is located below and behind the linearly extendable actuator upper pivot axis, when the door is in its closed position.   
     
     
       3. The bi-fold panel and mounting frame assembly of  claim 2  wherein two linearly extendable actuator upper support brackets are secured to opposite sides of the mounting frame assembly, two linearly extendable actuator lower support brackets secured to opposite sides of the upper panel, and two linearly extendable actuators are each secured to a corresponding pair of linearly extendable actuator upper and lower support brackets.  
     
     
       4. The bi-fold panel multi-panel door and mounting frame assembly of claim  2  1, wherein the said linearly extendable actuator upper support bracket is secured on or adjacent to a corresponding the vertical frame member to which it is adjacent. 
     
     
       5. The bi-fold panel multi-panel door and mounting frame assembly of claim  2  1, wherein the upper panel has a width and a height and the said linearly extendable actuator lower support bracket pivot axis is located in a position corresponding to approximately mid-height of the upper panel. 
     
     
       6. The bi-fold panel and mounting frame assembly of  claim 2  wherein the upper panel pivot axis and linearly extendable actuator lower pivot axis form a plane and the linearly extendable actuator upper and lower pivot axes form a plane and wherein the angle of intersection of these planes remains at an acute angle as the door is moved between an open and closed position. 
     
     
       7. The bi-fold panel multi-panel door and mounting frame assembly of claim  2  1, wherein the upper panel pivot axis and linearly extendable actuator lower pivot axis form a plane and the linearly extendable actuator upper and lower pivot axes form a plane and wherein the angle of intersection of these planes remains at is an acute angle as the door is moved between an open and closed position and wherein the acute angle formed by these planes is approximately 0 to 30 degrees when the door is in its closed position and is approximately 5 to 35 degrees when the door is in its open position within a range of 0 to 13 degrees when the door is in a closed position and is an acute angle within a range of 12 to 25 degrees when the door is in an open position. 
     
     
       8. The bi-fold panel multi-panel door and mounting frame assembly of claim  2  1, wherein the upper and lower panels have identical heights. 
     
     
       9. The bi-fold panel multi-panel door and mounting frame assembly of claim  2  1, wherein the upper and lower panels have different heights. 
     
     
       10. The bi-fold panel multi-panel door and mounting frame assembly of claim  2   1 , wherein the linearly extendable actuator is a hydraulic cylinder assembly. 
     
     
       11. The bi-fold panel multi-panel door and frame assembly of claim  2   10 , wherein the hydraulic cylinder assembly includes a cylinder and piston rod and further including includes a stop for limiting the extension of the piston from the cylinder. 
     
     
       12. A bi-fold panel door and mounting frame assembly for a rough opening in a building, comprising:
 a mounting frame assembly having a front surface and a back surface, mountable within a rough opening, the mounting frame assembly including a horizontal frame member and first and second vertical frame members secured to and extending downward from opposite ends of the horizontal frame member, and two hydraulic cylinder assembly upper support brackets, wherein each of the hydraulic cylinder assembly upper support brackets are secured on opposite sides of to the back surface of the mounting frame assembly adjacent to the first and second vertical frame members, respectively, and each extends down relative to the horizontal frame member to provide a hydraulic cylinder assembly upper pivot axis that is beneath the horizontal frame member, and wherein the two hydraulic cylinder assembly upper support brackets are each configured for pivotally engaging an upper end of a hydraulic cylinder assembly for rotation about a hydraulic cylinder assembly upper pivot axis; 
 a bi-fold door having an upper panel pivotally secured to a bottom panel, each of the upper panel and bottom panel having a front and back surface, the upper panel being pivotally secured at a top edge of the upper panel to the mounting frame horizontal frame member for rotation about an upper panel pivot axis, and wherein the back surface of the upper panel is associated with the back surface of the mounting frame assembly; 
 two hydraulic cylinder assembly lower support brackets secured to an and extending rearward away from the upper panel back surface on opposite sides, each configured for pivotally engaging a lower end of a hydraulic cylinder assembly for rotation about a hydraulic cylinder assembly lower pivot axis; 
 two hydraulic cylinder assemblies having extendable and retracting piston rods and an upper and lower end, each pivotally mounted by their respective upper ends to a hydraulic cylinder assembly upper support bracket and pivotally secured by their respective lower ends to a corresponding hydraulic cylinder assembly lower support bracket; and 
 a hydraulic control assembly is fluid communication with the two hydraulic cylinder assembly assemblies to control extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinder assembly piston rod rods to move the door between an open and a closed position positions; 
 wherein the upper panel pivot axis and hydraulic cylinder assembly lower pivot axis form a plane and the hydraulic cylinder assembly upper and lower pivot axes form a plane and wherein the angle of intersection of these planes remains is an acute angle as the door is moved between an open and closed position within a range of 0 to 13 degrees when the door is in a closed position and is an acute angle within a range of 12 to 25 degrees when the door is in an open position. 
 
     
     
       13. The bi-fold panel door and mounting frame assembly of  claim 12  wherein the acute angle formed by the planes fall in a range of 0 to 30 degrees when the door is in its closed position. 
     
     
       14. The bi-fold panel door and mounting frame assembly of  claim 12  wherein the acute angle formed by the planes falls in a range of 5 to 35 degrees when the door is in its open position. 
     
     
       15. The bi-fold panel door and mounting frame assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the angle of intersection is an acute angle of about 18 degrees when the door is in a partially open position. 
     
     
       16. A bi-fold panel door and mounting frame assembly for a rough opening in a building, comprising:
 a frame defining an opening, wherein the frame has a front and back surface, includes a horizontal frame member and first and second vertical frame members secured to and extending downward from opposite ends of the horizontal frame member, and is mountable within a rough opening;   a bi-fold panel door having an upper panel and a lower panel, wherein:
 an upper end of the upper panel is pivotally connected to said horizontal frame member at an upper panel pivot axis; 
 a lower end of the upper panel is pivotally connected to an upper end of the lower panel; and 
 the lower panel comprises one or more rollers extending laterally away from the lower panel into operative engagement with one or more complementary roller guides associated with the frame; 
   a hydraulic cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder and a piston rod, wherein an upper connection point associated with the cylinder is pivotally connected to a first bracket that defines a first pivot point positioned inside the frame-defined opening and beneath the horizontal frame member, and a lower connection point associated with the piston rod is pivotally connected to a second bracket that defines a second pivot point, the second bracket being mounted to the upper panel;   a hydraulic control assembly in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinder assembly to control extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinder assembly piston rod to move the door between an open and a closed position;   wherein first bracket is secured on or adjacent to the first vertical frame member; and   wherein an angle defined by the piston rod and a plane defined by the upper panel pivot axis and the said second pivot point is an acute angle within a range of 0 to 13 degrees when the door is in a closed position and is an acute angle within a range of 12 to 25 degrees when the door is in an open position.   
     
     
       17. A bi-fold panel door and mounting frame assembly for a rough opening in a building, comprising:
 a frame defining an opening, wherein the frame has a front and back surface, includes a horizontal frame member and first and second vertical frame members secured to and extending downward from opposite ends of the horizontal frame member, and is mountable within a rough opening;   a bi-fold panel door having an upper panel and a lower panel, wherein:
 a lower end of the upper panel is pivotally connected to an upper end of the lower panel; and 
 the lower panel comprises one or more rollers extending laterally away from the lower panel into operative engagement with one or more complementary roller guides associated with the frame; 
   a hydraulic cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder and a piston rod, wherein an upper connection point associated with the cylinder is pivotally connected to a first bracket that defines a first pivot point positioned inside the frame-defined opening and beneath the horizontal frame member, and a lower connection point associated with the piston rod is pivotally connected to a second bracket that defines a second pivot point, the second bracket being mounted to the upper panel;   a hydraulic control assembly in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinder assembly to control extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinder assembly piston rod to move the door between an open and a closed position;   wherein the first bracket is secured on or adjacent to the first vertical frame member; and   wherein an angle defined by the piston rod and a plane defined by the upper panel pivot axis and the said second pivot point is an acute angle of about 7.8 degrees when the door is in a closed position and is an acute angle of about 15.8 degrees when the door is in an open position.