Sectional door with edge-lit LED panel

Abstract

In example implementations, a panel of a sectional door is provided. The panel includes a panel housing, an opening in the panel housing, an edge-lit light emitting diode (LED) panel in the opening, and a constant power source electrically connected to the edge-lit LED panel. The edge-lit LED panel may provide privacy and a desired aesthetic look when activated for the sectional door.

Description

SECTIONAL DOOR WITH EDGE-LIT LED PANELBACKGROUND

[0001] Doors can be used for a variety of applications. For example, doors can be used as in residential locations or doors for bays and entrances to warehouses in commercial locations. Some doors may include sectional doors. One type of sectional door may be garage doors.

[0002] Sectional doors may be made from a plurality of individual sections that are mechanically coupled together. The size and number of sections may be determined based on a size of the opening of the garage or any other type of location with an opening. One or more of the sections may have a wheel or endlock that can fit into a track. The track may guide movement of each section of the sectional door while opening and closing. The sectional door can be opened and closed manually with the help of a counter balance spring or mechanically via a motor or garage door opener.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example sectional door with an edge-lit light emitting diode (LED) panel of the present disclosure;

[0004] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of an example panel of the sectional door with an opening for the edge-lit LED panel of the present disclosure;

[0005] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric exploded view of an example of the edge-lit LED panel of the present disclosure;

[0006] FIG. 4 illustrates a side exploded view of an example of the edge-lit LED panel of the present disclosure;

[0007] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded cross-sectional view of an example edge-lit LED panel of the present disclosure;

[0008] FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an example edge-lit LED panel of the present disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an example of the edge-lit LED panel powered on; and

[0010] FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of an example of the edge-lit LED panel powered off.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Examples described herein provide examples of sectional door with edge-lit light emitting diode (LED) panels. As discussed above, doors can be used for a variety of different applications. Some doors may be sectional doors, such as those used as garage doors.

[0012] Some sectional doors may have glass panels. However, these glass panels can be transparent and allow others to look into the garage. Some users may want the aesthetics of the glass panel, but occasionally want more privacy.

[0013] The present disclosure provides edge-lit LED panels. The edge-lit LED panels may be a modular integrated electrical component of the sectional door. The edge-lit LED panels may replace standard glass panels in the sectional door. When activated, the LED panels may diffuse light through the glass panel such that the glass panel becomes opaque. Thus, the user may add some privacy as desired.

[0014] In addition, the light emitted by the edge-lit LED panels may provide some aesthetics. For example, the edge-lit LED panel may include different colored LED lights. Thus, the edge-lit LED panel may emit different colored lights or different colored light combinations with multiple panels throughout the year. Green and red lights may be emitted during the holiday season, orange lights may be emitted during Halloween, and so forth.

[0015] In addition, the edge-lit LED panel may be continuously orintermittently powered by a constant power source. In other words, the power source is not a battery or a power source that requires recharging. The electrical wiring for the edge-lit LED panel may be routed through the panels of the sectional door. As a result, the electrical wiring may be located away from the track. Routing the electrical wiring within the panels may prevent entanglement or obstructions that could cause the sectional door to malfunction or operate improperly.

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a sectional door assembly 100 of the present disclosure. It should be noted that the sectional door assembly 100 in FIG. 1 has been simplified for ease of explanation. The sectional door assembly 100 may include additional features that are not shown. For example the sectional door 100 may include a rotating shaft, torsion springs, an operator, a user interface to control operation of the sectional door, one or more sensors, and the like.

[0017] In one embodiment, the sectional door assembly 100 may include a sectional door 102 that comprises a plurality of panels or sections 104i to 104n(hereinafter also referred to individually as a panel 104 or collectively as panels 104). The panels may be movably connected to one another via mechanical hinges 106. The first panel 104i may be the top most panel 104 and the last panel 104nmay be the bottom most panel 104.

[0018] In one embodiment, some of the panels 104 may include an edge-lit LED panel 108 that requires continuous or intermittent power. For example, panels 104i and 1042 may have edge-lit LED panels 108. In some examples, all of the panels 104 may include edge-lit LED panels 108.

[0019] An electrical wire or cord 116 may be run from a constant power source 122 to the edge-lit LED panel 108. For example, the constant power source 122 may be always available to deliver power. In other words, the constant power source 122 is not a battery or does not need to be recharged. The constant power source 122 may provide continuous or intermittent power to the edge-lit LED panel 108. The electrical wire 116 may be routed within the body of the panel 104 to keep the electrical wire 116 away from a path of the sectional door 102 within tracks 110 and 112. Further details of the edge-litLED panel 108 are illustrated in FIGs. 2-8 and discussed below.

[0020] The sectional door assembly 100 may include the tracks 110 and 112. The sectional door 102 may be guided by the tracks 110 and 112. The tracks 110 and 112 may be installed on opposite sides of the sectional door 102. A wheel or end lock (not shown) may be inserted into the tracks 110 and 112. In the case of a garage door, the garage door may have wheels that move within the tracks 110 and 112 as the garage door opens and closes in a direction as shown by an arrow 124.

[0021] The tracks 110 and 112 may be coupled to a wall of an opening where the sectional door 102 is installed. Horizontal angle brackets 120 may be coupled to a flag bracket (not shown) that is attached to the wall may further help to stabilize the tracks 110 and 112.

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of an example panel 104 of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the panel 104 may include a panel body 202. The panel body 202 may be fabricated from solid steel or may be assembled with composite or metal panels. The panel body 202 may have a front side 204, a back side 206, a bottom side 208, a top side 210, a right side 212, and a left side 214. The panel body 202 may include an interior volume where the electrical wire 116 may be routed to connect the edge-lit LED panel 108 to the power source 122.

[0023] In one embodiment, the panel 104 may include an opening 216. The opening 216 may be a cut-out performed during manufacturing of the panel 104 or may be an opening formed by rails and stiles of the panel 104. The edge-lit LED panel 108 may be inserted into the opening 216. In one embodiment, if the panel body 202 is solid, a tunnel or path may be bored into the panel body 202 to allow the electrical wire 116 to be routed through the panel body 202 to the edge-lit LED panel 108.

[0024] In one embodiment, the opening 216 may have a thickness 218. The thickness 218 of the opening 216 may be between 1-4 inches thick. In one embodiment, the opening 216 may be approximately 2 inches thick. Thus, the optical characteristics of the edge-lit LED panel 108 may be designed to operate within the limited thickness of the opening 216.

[0025] In some embodiments, the operating thickness for the edge-lit LED panel 108 may be between 1 to 3 inches. In one embodiment, the operating thickness for the edge-lit LED panel 108 may be approximately 1 inch or less. This may be due to the design of the framing for the edge-lit LED panel 108 and how the edge-lit LED panel 108 may be installed into the opening 216.

[0026] FIGs. 3-5 illustrate various exploded views of the edge-lit LED panel 108. FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric exploded view of an example edge-lit LED panel 108. In one embodiment, the edge-lit LED panel 108 may include a front side frame 302, a back side frame 304, an LED frame 316, and a glass panel 330. The front side frame 302 and the back side frame 304 may be identical. In other words, the description of the front side frame 302 may also be equally applied to the back side frame 304. In addition, the back side of the back side frame 304 may be used to highlight features that cannot be seen on the front side frame 302 for the view illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0027] In one embodiment, the front side frame 302 and the back side frame 304 may be fabricated from a single piece of metal or laminated material including a combination of polymeric materials, wood, metals and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the front side frame 302 and the back side frame 304 may be fabricated from a same material as the material used to fabricate the panel 104. In one embodiment, the front side frame 302 and the back side frame 304 may be fabricated from a different material as the material used to fabricate the panel 104.

[0028] In one embodiment, the front side frame 302 and the back side frame 304 may each include an outer surface 306, a recessed surface 308, a lip 310, and an opening 314. The outer surface 306 may provide a surface that can be coupled to the panel 104. For example, the outer surface 306 may be coupled to the outer edge of the opening 216 within the panel body 202.

[0029] In one embodiment, the recessed surface 308 may be formed adjacent to the outer surface 306. The recessed surface 308 may be located further inward from the outer surface 306 and around an inner perimeter of the outer surface 306. For example, a horizontal surface 360 may extend inward from the outer surface 306. The recessed surface 308 may then be coupled tothe horizontal surface 360.

[0030] The lip 310 may be formed around an inner perimeter of the recessed surface to form the opening 314. The opening 314 may have any shape that is similar to the shape of the glass panel 330. As used herein, glass means a transparent or translucent material that may be a silicate material or a polymeric material such as an acrylic polymer or carbonate. The example illustrated in FIG. 3 shows the opening 314 having a rectangular shape. The lip 310 may extend horizontally inward. The lip 310 may provide a surface on which the LED frame 316 may rest. The lip 310 may also secure the glass panel 330.

[0031] In one embodiment, the edge-lit LED panel 108 may be assembled by coupling the lip 310 of the front side frame 302 against a front side of the glass panel 330 and the lip 310 of the back side frame against a back side of the glass panel 330. The combination of the lip 310 of the front side frame 302 and the back side frame 304 may form a channel (e.g., a top channel 318 and a bottom channel 320 shown in FIGs. 4 and 5). For example, the channel may have a generally “U” shape formed by a backside 312 of the recessed surface 308 and the lip 310 of the front side frame 302 and the backside 312 of the recessed surface 308 and the lip 310 of the back side frame 304. In one embodiment, the LED frame 316 may be located within the channel and around the lip 310 of the front side frame 302, the glass panel 330, and the lip 310 of the back side frame 304.

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates a side exploded view of the example edge-lit LED panel 108. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the back side frame 304 may be coupled against the glass panel 330 that is coupled to the front side frame 302, as shown by arrows 352.

[0033] The side view in FIG. 4 also illustrates at least one LED 350 located inside of the LED frame 316. The LED 350 is shown in dashed lines to indicate that the LED 350 is not visible outside of the LED frame 316. At least one LED 350 may be located on opposite ends of the upper channel 318 and the lower channel 320. Said another way, at least one LED 350 may be located on opposite ends of a diffuser in the upper channel 318 and the lower channel 320.

[0034] Although FIG. 4 illustrates at least one LED 350 in the upper channel318 and the lower channel 320, it should be noted that the edge-lit LED panel 108 may include at least one LED 350 in only a single side of the LED frame 316. In other words, there may be at least one LED 350 only in the upper channel 318 or in the lower channel 320.

[0035] In one embodiment, as discussed above, each panel 104 may include multiple edge-lit LED panels 108. In addition, multiple panels 104 may include multiple edge-lit LED panels 108. In one embodiment where multiple edge-lit LED panels 108 are deployed, each LED 350 may emit the same colored light. In one embodiment, where multiple edge-lit LED panels 108 are deployed, some of the LEDs 350 may emit different colored light.

[0036] In one embodiment, an array of a plurality of LEDs 350 may be deployed on opposite ends of the upper channel 318 and / or the lower channel 320. The array of LEDs 350 may all emit the same color of light or may emit different colored light.

[0037] In one embodiment, the LED frame 316 may have a thickness 370. As noted above, although the opening 216 may have a thickness of between 1- 4 inches or approximately 2 inches, the operating thickness may be approximately 1 inch + / - 0.5 inches due to design constraints of the panel 104 and the panel body 202. Thus, the thickness 370 may be approximately 1 inch. The LED panel 316 is arranged and designed to diffuse light through the glass panel 330, while maintaining the thickness 370 of approximately 1 inch.

[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional exploded view of the example edge-lit LED panel 108. FIG. 5 illustrates how the LED frame 316 may include an opening 344 to receive the glass panel 330. Although the cross-section of the LED frame 316 is illustrated as an “L” shape, it should be noted that the cross-section of the LED frame 316 may also have a “U” shape.

[0039] FIG. 5 illustrates how the LED frame 316 may be located within the upper channel 318 and the lower channel 320. In one embodiment, the top portion of the LED frame 316 and / or the bottom portion of the LED frame 316 may include a diffuser 340. The diffuser 340 may scatter or redirect light emitted from the LEDs 350 back into the glass panel 330.

[0040] The diffuser 340 may be fabricated from glass. As used herein, glassmeans a transparent or translucent material that may be a silicate material or a polymeric material such as an acrylic polymer or carbonate polymer. For example, the diffuser 340 may be fabricated from optically clear polymeric material such as polyacrylates or polycarbonate. The diffuser 340 may include a surface 342 that provides reflection or light scattering in a desired direction into the glass panel 330. For example, the surface 342 may be a total internal reflection (TIR) surface or may be light scattering strip.

[0041] LEDs 350 emit light in a hemi-spherical pattern. Thus, to further help redirect light from the LEDs 350 into the glass panel 330, the backside 312 may include a reflective surface. For example, the backside 312 may be metalized or a reflective strip or mirror may be applied to the backside 312. The metalized surface or reflective strip may have a rough surface or imperfect surface to scatter light of the horizontal plane. Thus, light emitted towards the backside 312 can be kept inside of the diffuser 340 and allowed to be redirected by the surface 342 into the glass panel 330 or directly into the glass panel 330. This may help to maximize efficiency and minimize light loss / leakage of the light emitted by the LEDs 350.

[0042] FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of how the diffuser 340 can redirect light emitted by the LEDs 350 into the glass panel 330. As noted above, the LEDs 350 can be located on opposite ends of the upper channel 318 or the lower channel 320. Said another way, the LEDs 350 can be located on opposite ends of the diffuser 340.

[0043] In one embodiment, the LEDs 350 may be arranged such that a central light emitting axis 604 of the LEDs 350 are parallel with the surface 342. This arrangement allows the LED frame 316 to have a thickness of approximately 1 inch and allow the diffuser 340 to operate with enough distance away from the LEDs 350 to generate the desired light pattern through the glass panel 330.

[0044] With the LEDs 350 arranged as shown in FIG. 6, the light may be emitted in various directions, as shown by light rays 602i to 602m(hereinafter also referred to individually as a light ray 602 or collectively as light rays 602). Some of the light rays 602 may be emitted into the glass panel 330 directly.

[0045] Some of the light rays 602 emitted by the LEDs 350 may be directed out of the sides (e.g., into and out of the page). As noted above, the light rays 602 directed out of the sides may be redirected by the backside 312 of the recessed surface back into the diffuser 340 at angles above and / or below the central light emitting axis 604.

[0046] Some of the light rays 602 emitted by the LEDs 350 may be directed towards the surface 342. The surface 342 may then redirect the light rays 602 back towards the glass panel 330.

[0047] As a result, when the LEDs 350 are activated, the design of the LED frame 316 may allow a maximum amount of light to be redirected towards the glass panel 330. In addition, the diffuser 340 may distribute the light evenly through the glass panel 330. The design of the LED frame 316, and the way the light is redirected, may also substantially collimate the light such that the light is focused to allow the light to stay within the thickness of the glass panel 330. The design of the LED frame 316 may allow less LEDs 350 to be deployed per area to minimize power draw by maximizing the efficiency of the light output.

[0048] In one embodiment, the number of LEDs 350 may also be set to meet certain electrical standard requirements. For example, the number of LEDs 350 or the power consumed by the edge-lit LED panel 108 may meet National Electrical Code (NEC) Class 2 or Class 4. NEC Class 2 circuits should only be connected to a power supply with a load side that has a rating of less than 100 volt amps (VA) and a voltage of up to 30 V.

[0049] NEC Class 4 power systems mainly use direct current (DC) power. DC power is only made up of active power, which is why Watts are used to measure power instead of VA (apparent power). Class 2 power systems also mainly use DC power. The design of the edge-lit LED panels 108 of the present disclosure should be able to be limited to 100 Watts of current in Class 4 power systems in the span of 5 seconds after any fault condition.

[0050] Filling the glass panel 330 with light from the LEDs 350 may create an opaque glass panel 330. FIG. 7 illustrates an example when the LEDs 350 are activated. FIG. 7 illustrates an example with a plurality of LEDs 350i to 350n.The LEDs 350i to 350nmay be arranged in an array. The array of LEDs 350i to 350nmay be located linearly across a width of the LED frame 316 on opposite sides of the diffuser 340. The array of 350i to 350non the near side of the LED frame 312 may not be visible in FIG. 7.

[0051] When the LEDs 350i to 350nare activated, the light may be redirected as shown in FIG. 6, and described above. The light may fill the glass panel 330 and create an opaque glass panel 330, as shown by the greyed out glass panel 330. As a result, the activated LEDs 350i to 350nmay create a privacy window on demand.

[0052] The activated LEDs 350i to 350nmay also provide a desired aesthetic look for the sectional door 102. For example, for different holidays, the different colored LEDs 350i to 350nmay be activated to match holiday decor around the home. The different colored LEDs 350i to 350nmay be activated to represent the colors of a favorite sports team, and so forth. Thus, the activated LEDs 350i to 350nmay provide a privacy and an aesthetic look.

[0053] FIG. 8 illustrates an example when the LEDs 350i to 350oare deactivated. As shown in FIG. 8, when the LEDs 350i to 350oare deactivated, the glass panel 330 may become clear again or transparent. Thus, a person may be able to look through the glass panel 330 or allow natural light to enter the garage when the LEDs 350i to 350oare deactivated.

[0054] Thus, the present disclosure provides sectional doors with an edge-lit LED panel. The edge-lit LED panel may be installed as part of the fabrication of the sectional door. The edge-lit LED panel can receive continuous or intermittent power and wired in a way to prevent the wires from getting tangled or potentially interfering with the operation of the sectional door. The edge-lit LED panel may also provide privacy or a desired aesthetic look when activated, as described above.

[0055] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended tobe encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A panel of a sectional door, comprising: a panel housing; an opening in the panel housing; an edge-lit light emitting diode (LED) panel in the opening; and a constant power source electrically connected to the edge-lit LED panel.

2. The panel of claim 1 , wherein the panel housing is fabricated from steel.

3. The panel of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the opening is approximately 2 inches.

4. The panel of claim 1 , wherein the edge-lit LED panel comprises: a front side frame; a channel along at least one side of the front side frame; at least one LED on opposite ends of the channel; a diffuser located in the channel and located between the at least one LED on opposite ends of the channel; a glass panel located below the diffuser and in an opening of the front side frame; and a back side frame coupled to the front side frame to enclose the at least one LED on opposite ends of the channel, the diffuser, and the glass panel.

5. The panel of claim 4, wherein the channel, the diffuser, and the glass panel have a thickness of approximately 1 inch.

6. The panel of claim 4, wherein the channel, the at least one LED on opposite ends of the channel, and the diffuser are located along a top side of the front side frame and the glass panel.

7. The panel of claim 4, wherein the at least one LED comprises an LEDarray with different colored LEDs.

8. The panel of claim 4, wherein the diffuser comprises a total internal reflection surface or a light scattering strip on at least one surface of the diffuser.

9. The panel of claim 4, wherein a light scattering surface of the diffuser is positioned to be parallel to a central light emitting axis of the at least one LED.

10. The panel of claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a plurality of openings in the panel housing and each one of the plurality of openings includes an edge- lit LED panel.11 . The panel of claim 1 , further comprising: electrical wiring to connect the constant power source to the edge-lit LED panel, wherein the electrical wiring is routed within a body of the panel housing.

12. An edge-lit light emitting diode (LED) panel for a panel of a sectional door, comprising: a front side frame; a back side frame, wherein the front side frame and the back side frame each comprises: an outer surface to contact a surface of a panel body of the sectional door; a recessed surface formed along an inner perimeter of the outer surface; and a lip formed around an inner perimeter of the recessed surface to form an opening in a center of the front side frame or the back side frame, wherein an upper channel and a lower channel is formed by the lip of the front side frame that contacts the lip of the back side frame; an LED frame located in the upper channel and the lower channel and around the lip of the front side frame and the back side frame, the LED frame comprising:a top diffuser located in the upper channel; a bottom diffuser located in the lower channel; and at least one LED located on opposite ends of the top diffuser and on opposite ends of the bottom diffuser; and a glass panel located inside of the LED frame and secured between the front side frame and the back side frame.

13. The edge-lit LED panel of claim 12, wherein a back side of the recessed surface comprises a reflective coating to redirect light back towards the top diffuser or the bottom diffuser.

14. The edge-lit LED panel of claim 12, wherein the at least one LED comprises a plurality of LEDs arranged in an array.

15. The edge-lit LED panel of claim 14, wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises different colored LEDs.

16. The edge-lit LED panel of claim 12, wherein at least one surface of the top diffuser and the bottom diffuser each comprise a total internal reflection surface or a light scattering strip.

17. The edge-lit LED panel of claim 12, wherein a light scattering surface of the top diffuser and the bottom diffuser is positioned to be parallel to a central light emitting axis of the at least one LED.

18. A sectional door assembly, comprising: a first track and a second track; a sectional door comprising a plurality of panels, wherein the sectional door is movably coupled into the first track and the second track, wherein the first track and the second track guide a movement of the sectional door, wherein the plurality of panels includes at least one opening; an edge-lit light emitting diode (LED) panel located in the at least oneopening; and a constant power source electrically connected to the edge-lit LED panel.

19. The sectional door assembly of claim 18, wherein a thickness of the at least one opening is less than 2 inches.

20. The sectional door assembly of claim 18, wherein the edge-lit LED panel comprises: a front side frame; a channel along at least one side of the front side frame; at least one LED on opposite ends of the channel; a diffuser located in the channel and located between the at least one LED on opposite ends of the channel; a glass panel located below the diffuser and in an opening of the front side frame; and a back side frame coupled to the front side frame to enclose the at least one LED on opposite ends of the channel, the diffuser, and the glass panel.

Images