Rotatable Tube and Hook Endlock for Overhead Door Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

Overhead closures in industrial settings, such as coiling and sectional doors, face challenges in maintaining secure positioning against displacement forces, which can lead to unauthorized entry when the locking capability provided by operators is insufficient, especially under external forces like wind or accidental impacts.

Innovation Solution

A novel door locking design featuring a rotatable tube and hook assembly that engages with a closure end to provide enhanced end retention, preventing dislodgement in all axes, including upward, lateral, and normal directions, while maintaining a slim profile to avoid adding stress points to coiling closures and securing panels in sectional doors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional locking mechanisms are used, then the closure can be operated, but the locking capability is insufficient against displacement forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking capabilityVSAvoiddisplacement force resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is segmented into multiple independent hook members distributed along the closure end, each capable of engaging with the guide independently. This segmentation allows the system to resist displacement forces more effectively while maintaining operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hook members are nested within the closure end structure, with each hook integrated into the closure end profile. This nesting allows the locking function to be incorporated without adding external protrusions that would increase the closure thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the closure end is made thicker to enhance locking, then end retention improves, but coil diameter increases and stress points are added

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveend retentionVSAvoidcoil diameter

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The locking features are concentrated at the critical engagement points where hooks interface with the guide, rather than uniformly thickening the entire closure end. This localized approach provides enhanced end retention only where needed, without increasing overall coil diameter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of adding material to the closure end to improve locking, the design uses recesses and cutouts that remove material strategically. The hooks engage through these recesses, providing strong locking while maintaining a slim closure end profile that doesn't increase coil diameter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If multiple track connections are used in monolithic doors, then reliability improves, but the number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverobustnessVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closure end serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the locking interface through hooks, maintains the slim profile for coiling, and integrates the structural connection points. This multi-functionality achieves robustness without proportionally increasing the number of separate parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10501984B2Overhead closure with tube and hook end lock

Publication Date: 2019.12.10 CORNELLCOOKSON LLC

AI summary

A closure locking design is presented that is more resistant to a displacement/dislodgement force. A closure end strip is fixed to a closure end and received by a closure guide first section. A rotatable tube and hook assembly run vertically within a closure guide second section. When rotated to a locking position a hook member of the tube and hook assembly rotates through a slot cut in the guide and through a cutout in the closure end strip to restrictively engage the closure.