Overhead Door Safety Support for Mechanical Fall Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead garage door safety systems fail to physically prevent doors from falling and do not provide a visual indication of safety, especially in the event of mechanical or electrical failure, posing a risk of injury or damage.
Innovation Solution
A safety support system comprising a frame arm, limit switch, mounting assembly, junction box, spring-loaded receiving piece, hinges, and stabilizing foot, which can be manually or automatically deployed to stop a falling door and indicate safety with LED lights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If infrared sensor safety devices are used to detect door obstruction, then the door closing operation can be prevented when someone is in the way, but the system cannot physically stop the door from falling in the event of mechanical or electrical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The safety system is divided into two independent functional segments: (1) infrared sensor-based obstruction detection that prevents door closing when someone is in the way, and (2) mechanical support arms that physically prevent the door from falling. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its specific safety function without requiring the other to be overly complex, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical support arms are positioned in advance under the garage door to provide a physical safety barrier before any failure can occur. These arms act as a pre-positioned mechanical cushion that will automatically engage to prevent door collapse in the event of cable, spring, or motor failure, providing beforehand protection that complements the electronic sensor system.
2Strength
If the garage door is equipped with heavy-duty components to prevent failure, then the door durability is improved, but the weight of the door increases which creates greater potential harm in case of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical support arms function as counterweight safety devices positioned beneath the garage door. In the event of door failure, these arms provide an opposing force to the falling door weight, preventing catastrophic collapse. This anti-weight mechanism counteracts the harmful effect of heavy door components by providing a safety backup that limits the actual harm that can occur during failure events.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arms are pre-positioned to cushion against the door weight before any failure occurs. By having these mechanical supports in place beforehand, the system prepares for potential failure scenarios, reducing the harmful impact of heavy door components that would otherwise create greater injury risk during failure events.
3Speed
If the safety support system is designed to be automatically deployed, then the response time to prevent door falling is reduced, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical support arms are designed to be self-positioning under the garage door, requiring no external power source, motors, or control systems. The arms simply rest in the ready position beneath the door and automatically engage to provide support if the door begins to fall due to failure of cables, springs, or motors. This self-service design achieves instantaneous response time without adding device complexity or cost.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to a new and improved overhead door safety support and/or kit for overhead garage doors. More specifically, the invention relates to an overhead door safety support that is comprised of a metal frame arm, a level arm switch, a mounting assembly, a junction box, a spring-loaded garage door receiving piece, a plurality of hinges, a hand lock, and a stabilizing foot. The overhead door safety support and/or kit for overhead garage doors of the present invention improves safety and is relatively easy to install and use.