Door components with wire recesses

Abstract

In example implementations, a panel of an overhead door is provided. The panel includes a plurality of rails, a plurality of stiles, and a plurality of windows, and at least one electronic component, wherein the plurality of windows are each enclosed by the plurality of rails and the plurality of stiles, wherein at least one of the plurality of rails or at least one of the plurality of stiles comprises an integrated recess to receive a wire to electrically connect a power supply to the at least one electronic component.

Description

DOOR COMPONENTS WITH WIRE RECESSESBACKGROUND

[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. Each section may have a roller 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 loaded torsion spring or mechanically via a motor or garage door opener.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an example overhead sectional door of the present disclosure;

[0004] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of previous panel designs of the overhead sectional door;

[0005] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of an example of a panel of the present disclosure;

[0006] FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric close-up view of another example of apanel of the present disclosure;

[0007] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example rail of a panel of the present disclosure;

[0008] FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of a portion of the example rail of a panel of the present disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom view of a portion of another example rail of a panel of the present disclosure; and

[0010] FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric view of an example panel of the present disclosure with a glazing bead.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The present disclosure provides examples of overhead doors with components that include a wire channel. As discussed above, doors can be used for a variety of different applications. Some doors may be sectional doors having a metal frame that holds windows called full-view doors, such as those used as garage doors.

[0012] Some sectional doors may include panels with an electronic component. Providing continuous power to the panels can be difficult as the sectional door may move along a track. The movement of the sectional door and the various components of the track may make it difficult to wire the sectional door for power. The wire may become tangled or stuck along the various components of the sectional door and / or track. Additionally, full-view doors comprise pre-formed rails and stiles that are assembled into a frame network for windows that leaves few options other than surface mounting electrical wires to the exterior of the section. Exposed electrical wiring is not preferred for overhead sectional doors.

[0013] The present disclosure provides a wire channel in door components that allow electrical connections to be made between a power source and the electric component in the overhead door. The wire channel may be hidden from view so that the overhead door maintains a clean aesthetic design.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an example an overhead sectional door system 100 of the present disclosure. The overhead sectionaldoor system 100 may include a door 102 that is comprised of a plurality of panels 104i to 104n(hereinafter also referred to individually as a panel 104 or collectively as panels 104). The door 102 may be opened by moving the panels 104 along a track system 108. The track system 108 may define a path along which the panels 104 may move to open and close the door 102.

[0015] It should be noted that the overhead sectional door system 100 in FIG. 1 has been simplified for ease of explanation. The overhead sectional door system 100 may include additional features that are not shown. For example, overhead sectional door system 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.

[0016] In one embodiment, the panels 104 may be vertically stacking panels that are stacked along a horizontal portion of the track system 108. In another embodiment, the panels 104 may be moved into a horizontal position along a horizontal portion of the track system 108 (e.g., a residential garage door).

[0017] In one embodiment, the door 102 may be opened closed via a motor 118. The motor 118 may be connected to a shaft 1 10. The shaft 110 maybe connected to one or more panels 104 of the door 102. As the motor 118 is activated, the motor 118 may cause the shaft 110 to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise to open and close the door 102. The sectional door 102 may be guided by tracks 110 and 112. The track system 108 may be installed on opposite sides of the door 102. A roller may be inserted into the track system 108 on one end and the second end of the roller is inserted into a bracket attached to the panel 104.

[0018] The track system may be coupled to a wall or other structure support around the opening where the door 102 is installed. Support beams (not shown) may be coupled to the wall may further help to stabilize the track system 108.

[0019] In one embodiment, at least one of the panels 104 may include a plurality of windows 1061 to 106m(hereinafter also referred to individually as a window 106 or collectively as windows 106). The windows 106 may each be enclosed by an arrangement of rails 112 and stiles 114 that form openings thatenclose each of the windows 106.

[0020] In an example, illustrated in FIG. 1 , each panel 104 may have a top rail and a bottom rail. The panel 104 may include four stiles between the top and bottom rail to form three openings. A window 106 may be located in each opening. However, it should be noted that any number of stiles may be deployed for any desired number of openings and windows 106 per panel 104.

[0021] In one embodiment, an electrical component 120i to 120m(hereinafter also referred to individually as an electrical component 120 or collectively as electrical components 120) may be deployed as part of each window 106. Although each window 106 is illustrated as having an electrical component 120, it should be noted that at least one window 106 or any subset of windows 106 (e.g., every middle window 106) may include an electrical component 120.

[0022] The electrical component 120 may be electrically activated smart glass. For example, the smart glass may transition from clear to opaque when powered on. In other examples, the electrical component 120 may be lights in or around a window pane. In other examples, the electrical component 120 may include sensors or other types of devices that can generate data. The data may be transferred to and from the electrical components 106 via a conductive path or wire or an additional data cable along with the conductive path. The window 106 may be fabricated from any type of suitable glazing such as silicate-based glass, polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, or any other translucent, transparent, or optically transmissive material.

[0023] Regardless of what the electrical component 120 is, the present disclosure may provide a conductive path within the panel 104 to allow the electrical component 120 to be wired to a power supply 116. The conductive path may be hidden from view and / or may be located internally to the panel 104 without impacting the manufacturing process of the panel 104.

[0024] Due to the design of the overhead door 102, there may be limited amount of space where a wire 122 from the power supply 116 may be routed and hidden within the panel 104. The present disclosure provides an integrated recess structure (illustrated in FIGs. 3-7) and discussed below that allow the wire 122 to be routed through the panel 104 and hidden from view.

[0025] Although FIG. 1 illustrates an overhead panel door system 100, it should be noted that the panels 104 may be part of other door systems. For example, the conductive path may be provided for a panel used in a divider that moves horizontally left to right, rather than vertically up and down.

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of current design of a panel 204. The panel 204 may include a top and bottom rail 212 and stiles 214. Notably, the rails 212 have a solid surface across the entire length of the rail 212. Currently wiring may be adhered to or attached on external and exposed portions of the rail 212 and / or stiles 214. The exposed and visible wiring may be undesirable and detract from the overall aesthetic design of an overhead door.

[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric close-up view of a portion of a panel 104 of the present disclosure. The isometric view of the panel 104 allows a bottom side 308 of the rail 112 that is on top to be visible.

[0028] In one embodiment, the rail 112 may include a recess 302. The recess 302 may be formed as part of the rail 112 via an extrusion process and may also be referred to as an integrated recess 302. In other embodiments, the stiles 114 may also include the recess 302 when wire 122 is run vertically in the panel 104.

[0029] In one embodiment, the recess 302 may include mechanical securing means 304 to hold the wire 122 in place and prevent the wire 122 from falling out of the recess 302. For example, the mechanical securing means 304 may be a grommet, a retaining clip, and the like. In one embodiment, the mechanical securing means 304 allows for the removal and replacement of the wire 122. A replacement wire 122 can be held in place by the mechanical securing means 304. In one embodiment, a plurality of the mechanical securing means 304 may be deployed along the recess 302 across an entire length of the rail 112. For example, the plurality of mechanical securing means 304 may be evenly spaced apart along the entire length of the rail 112 every few inches or feet.

[0030] In some examples, the mechanical securing means 304 may be formed within the recess 302 as part of the profile or may be formed subsequent to the profile formation. In other words, the mechanical securing means 304may be an integral part of the recess 302 and rail 112. Said another way, the mechanical securing means 304 and the rail 112 may be formed as a single piece.

[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of another example of the panel 104 of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the recess 302 may be sized to be approximately the same size as the widest part of the wire 122. As a result, the wire 122 may be secured within the recess 302 via an interference fit or a friction fit without the use of any mechanical securing means 304 illustrated in FIG. 3, and discussed above.

[0032] For example, the recess 302 may have a width 402 and a depth 406. The width 402 may be approximately the same or slightly larger (e.g., approximately 0.01 to 0.1 inches wider) than a widest part of the wire 122. In addition, the depth 406 of the recess 302 may be such that the wire 122 does not extend beyond a plane of the bottom side 308 of the rail 112. In other words, the wire 122 may remain below the plane of the bottom side 308 of the rail.

[0033] In one embodiment, the stiles 114 may also be modified to accommodate the wire 122. For example, the stiles 114 may include a cut-out 408 at each end. The cut-out 408 may include a middle portion 410 that is slightly shorter than the outer portions 412 and 414 of the stile 114. The middle portion 410 may be aligned with the recess 302 in the rail 112. This creates an opening through the stile 114 that allows the wire 122 to be easily passed through the entire length of the rail 112 for each panel 104.

[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example rail 112 of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates the open volume in the recess 304 to receive the wire 122. In some embodiments, the rail 112 may also include a removable portion 502. The removable portion 502 may run along an entire length of a bottom side of the rail 112. This may allow a single type of rail 112 to be kept in inventory regardless of whether the rail 112 is used for a panel 104 with the electronic component 120 or without. The removable portion 502 may allow the rail 112 to appear smooth for applications that do not require wiring. However, if the panel 104 includes an electronic component 120 the removableportion 502 may be removed to reveal the recess 304.

[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates the bottom side 308 of an example rail 112 with the removable portion 502. In one embodiment, the removable portion 502 may be defined by perforations 604 that are formed during the molding or extruding process to form the rail 112. The perforations 604 may run along an entire length of the bottom side 308 of the rail 112. For example, the rail 112 may be molded or extruded with the recess 304 covered. The perforations 604 may be then punched along the edges of the recess 304. Thus, if wiring is required, the perforations 604 may allow the removable portion 502 to be easily pulled away or separated from the rail 112.

[0036] FIG. 7 illustrates the bottom side 308 of another example rail 112 with the removable portion 502. In one embodiment, the removable portion 502 may be defined by connecting tabs 702i to 702o(hereinafter also referred to individually as a connecting tab 702 or connecting tabs 702). The connecting tabs 702 may be formed during the molding or extruding process to form the rail 112. Thus, if wiring is required, the connecting tab 702 may allow the removable portion 502, that runs along the entire bottom side 308 of the rail 112, to be easily pulled away or separated from the rail 112.

[0037] FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric view of an example of the panel 104 with a glazing bead 802. FIG. 8 illustrates stiles 114 and rails 112 that included a recess 302 that are covered by the glazing bead 802. For example, after the wiring is completed within the rails 112 and / or stiles 114, a glazing bead 802 may be applied to seal the recess 302 and secure the wire 122 within the recess 302. The glazing bead 802 may also provide a finished look for the panel 104 by hiding the wire 122 and the recess 302 from view.

[0038] Although a glazing bead 802 is illustrated in FIG. 8, it should be noted that other materials may be used to secure the wire 122 within the recess 302. For example, a tape that is similar in color to the stiles 114 and the rails 112 may be used. In another example, the electrical component 120 may be designed to be inserted into the recess 302 to secure the wire 122.

[0039] It should be noted that although various embodiments of the recess 302 are illustrated above, a combination of one or more of the differentembodiments may be combined within a panel 104 or among different panels 104 that comprise the overhead door 102. For example, some rails 112 within the panel 104 may include the mechanical securing means 304 and other rails 112 within the panel 104 may include the properly sized recess 302 to create a friction fit with the wire 122. In another example, one panel 104 may include the mechanical securing means 304 and other panels may have properly sized recesses 302 to create a friction fit with the wire 122. In one embodiment, the rail 112 may include both a properly sized recess 302 (e.g., FIG. 4) and the mechanical securing means 304 to secure the thinner portions of the wire 122 that may be much thinner than an end of the wire 122.

[0040] 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 to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A panel of an overhead door, comprising: a plurality of rails; a plurality of stiles; a plurality of windows; and at least one electronic component, wherein the plurality of windows are each enclosed by the plurality of rails and the plurality of stiles, wherein at least one of the plurality of rails or at least one of the plurality of stiles comprises an integrated recess to receive a wire to electrically connect a power supply to the at least one electronic component.

2. The panel of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of stiles comprises a cutout to allow the wire to pass through the plurality of stiles along the integrated recesses in the at least one of the plurality of rails.

3. The panel of claim 1 , wherein the integrated recess comprises a width approximately equal to a widest part of the wire to secure the wire inside of the integrated recess.

4. The panel of claim 1 , wherein the integrated recess comprises at least one mechanical securing means to secure the wire inside of the integrated recess.

5. The panel of claim 4, wherein the integrated recess comprises a plurality of mechanical securing means spaced the integrated recess of the at least one of the plurality of rails.

6. The panel of claim 4, wherein the at least one mechanical securing means is formed as part of the integrated recess.

7. The panel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of rails,comprises: a removable portion along a length of a bottom side of the at least one of the plurality of rails.

8. The panel of claim 7, wherein the bottom side comprises a plurality of perforations to define the removable portion.

9. The panel of claim 7, wherein the removable portion is connected via a plurality of connection tabs.

10. The panel of claim 1 , further comprising: a glazing bead applied over the wire and along the integrated recess.

11. A panel of an overhead door, comprising: a top rail, the top rail comprising an integrated recess; a bottom rail; a plurality of stiles between the top rail and the bottom rail to form at least one opening; a window within the at least one opening; at least one electronic component that is part of the window; and a wire located in the integrated recess of the top rail to electrically connect the at least one electronic component to a power supply.

12. The panel of claim 11 , wherein each one of the plurality of stiles comprises a cutout to allow the wire to pass through the plurality of stiles along the integrated recesses.

13. The panel of claim 11 , wherein the integrated recess comprises a width approximately equal to a widest part of the wire to secure the wire inside of the integrated recess.

14. The panel of claim 11 , wherein the integrated recess comprises at leastone grommet to secure the wire inside of the integrated recess.

15. The panel of claim 14, wherein the integrated recess comprises a plurality of grommets spaced the integrated recess of the at least one of the plurality of rails.

16. The panel of claim 11 , wherein the top rail, comprises: a removable portion along a length of a bottom side of the top rail.

17. An overhead door system, comprising: a track system; and a door movably coupled to the track system, the door comprising: a plurality of panels, wherein at least one of the plurality of panels, comprises: a top rail, the top rail comprising an integrated recess; a bottom rail; a plurality of stiles between the top rail and the bottom rail to form at least one opening; a window within the at least one opening; at least one electronic component that is part of the window; and a wire located in the integrated recess of the top rail to electrically connect the at least one electronic component to a power supply.

18. The overhead door system of claim 17, wherein the integrated recess comprises a width approximately equal to a widest part of the wire to secure the wire inside of the integrated recess.

19. The overhead door system of claim 17, wherein the integrated recess comprises at least one grommet to secure the wire inside of the integrated recess.

20. The overhead door system of claim 17, wherein the top rail, comprises: a removable portion along a length of a bottom side of the top rail.

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