GB2407115A

GB2407115A - Garage door assembly with hinged guide tracks

Info

Publication number: GB2407115A
Application number: GB0324003A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sidney Harry Atkins; Christopher Stuart Turner
Original assignee: Cardale Group Ltd
Current assignee: Cardale Group Ltd
Priority date: 2003-10-14
Filing date: 2003-10-14
Publication date: 2005-04-20
Also published as: FR2860827A1; GB0324003D0

Abstract

A garage door assembly 10 comprises an aperture frame 11 and at least two first guide track sets 12, 13, the aperture frame 11 including on opposite sides thereof two mutually juxtaposed, in-use vertically extending further guide tracks 14, 16 and a bracing member 17 rigidly interconnecting the further guide tracks 14, 16; the first guide track sets 12, 13 being respectively hingedly secured to the aperture frame 11 at or adjacent to the further guide tracks 14, 16 so as to be foldable between a storage/transportation configuration in which the first guide track sets 12, 13 overlie one another and are substantially flush with the aperture frame 11; and in-use configuration in which the first guide track sets 12, 13 lie mutually juxtaposed and protruding horizontally from the aperture frame 11 on opposite sides thereof with each said first guide track set defining a horizontally extending continuation of an associated said further guide track 14, 16.

Description

240711 5

A GARAGE DOOR ASSEMBLY

This invention relates to a garage door assembly. In particular the invention concerns features of a garage door assembly that permit its ready transportation and erection on site.

As used herein the term "garage door assembly" includes an arrangement of frame members that when connected together define the component(s) installed in a garage doorway aperture for movably supporting thereon one lo or more garage door panels.

"Garage door assembly" also embraces within its scope such an assembly when incorporating one or more such panels.

Furthermore, although for convenience herein reference is made to an assembly for use in constructing the door of a garage, the invention includes within its scope such assemblies when used to create doors in ea.

warehouses, sheds and similar buildings characterized by an interior storage space that terminates in an opening requiring closing by means of such a door.

Traditionally in the UK garage door gears (ie. mechanisms) have been of the "up and over", in which a single, rigid garage door panel is movably mounted on a door gear.

The known arrangements are such that the door panel is movable between a closed position, in which it is vertical, and occupies substantially the entire door aperture; and an open position, in which it is retracted into the interior of the garage and lies horizontally adjacent the ceiling or roof thereof.

There are two principal kinds of"up and over" door gear: the "canopy" gear; and the "retractable" gear.

The locus of the whole door panel, when moving from its closed to its open position, is complex, regardless of the precise type of door gear in use. s

Both the canopy and retractable door gear types rely for their operation on a mechanism that confers a different locus, during the opening and closing action, on the lower edge of the door panel than on the upper edge.

lo More specifically the mechanisms cause the lower portion of the door panel to move outwardly to a position protruding beyond the garage door aperture, during the first part of the motion of the door to its open position.

In recent years there has been a tendency for newly built houses to have smaller gardens, especially front gardens, than hitherto.

As a consequence, the driveways of new houses tend to be shorter than hitherto. Therefore there is limited room for the parking of vehicles in front of the garages of new houses.

As a result there is nowadays a tendency for drivers to park their vehicles closely adjacent their garage doors.

However, the traditional up and over garage doors discourage such parking, because of the requirement for a clearance permitting opening of the bottom edge of the garage door panel.

Observers therefore believe that the popularity of up and over garage doors in new houses will decline over the next few years. In replacement, so o called"sectional" garage doors probably will become considerably more popular.

A sectional garage door is one in which the single door panel is replaced by a series of ea. four rectangular panels, each of smaller size than the traditional garage door panels, hingedly linked together one above the other In a series.

Pairs of guide tracks secured at either side of the garage door aperture permit guided motion of the panels as a flexible, linked train, between closed and open configurations.

An advantage of the sectional door design over the more traditional one piece panel designs is that the locus of the train of panels is defined exclusively by the guide tracks. Consequently it is possible, and indeed common, to define a locus of the panels that is initially vertical (during the first part of opening of the door); subsequently arcuate; and then horizontal, as the panels retract into the garage interior. Such a locus does not involve any part of the train of panels in protruding beyond the garage door aperture. Consequently a sectional garage door is readily openable and closable, even when a vehicle is parked outside the garage closely adjacent the door.

A subsidiary advantage of the sectional garage door design is that it is comparatively cheap to replace a single panel of it, that may suffer damage ea. as a result of parking accidents.

Although many garage door assemblies are purchased by householders, a significantly greater number are purchased and installed in large batches by house builders. For these people in particular the time taken to install a garage door is significant factor in determining the overall cost of each installation. Therefore there is an unending need to reduce the amount of time needed to complete a garage door installation operation.

A significant disadvantage, however, of the sectional garage doors presently available is that they require assembly upon site, from a set of components.

Thus it is necessary for an installer firstly to secure two guide tracks extending vertically at either side of the door aperture. Then he must secure to these an interconnecting member defining a lintel at the top of the door aperture; and secure horizontal guide tracks extending into the interior of the garage.

lo Thereafter the installer must insert each of the door panels into the resulting framework, such that spindles protruding from the door panels are held movably captive in the guide tracks.

This involves feeding the spindles into the free ends of the tracks; advancing the door panels until they abut one another; and subsequently securing the panels one to another by means of hinges fixed on the rear (interior) face of the garage door.

This stage of the operation requires a high degree of precision, so that the So joints between the adjacent panels visible on the front face of the garage door are even and consistent.

Some prior art sectional garage door arrangements therefore include features that cause the panels to rest one upon another with a predetermined spacing, so that the hinges are readily securable at the desired location.

Examples of these arrangements are known ea. from EP O 370 324 and EP O 370 376.

so The use of abutting portions of the panels to provide the correct spacings are only practical when the panels are manufactured from metal. When the panels are manufactured from ea. glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), abutment of the adjacent panels is strongly undesirable since it produces unsightly markings.

A further problem of sectional garage doors is that as the door panels travel around arcuate parts of the guide tracks the joints between adjacent panels enlarge by reason of the hinged securing together of the panels.

In some designs of sectional garage door the gaps enlarge to the extent that lo a person could insert his fingers into the gaps. Reversal of the motion of the door assembly could then crush the user's fingers.

This problem is particularly acute when the garage door is driven by an electric motor between its closed and open positions.

Similar gaps can in some designs of sectional garage door open up during use on the rear (interior) face. Such gaps also can provide a significant potential pinch hazard. Therefore there is also a general need for improvements in the pinch safety of sectional garage door assemblies.

to Features providing such improvements are referred to herein as "antipinch" features.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a garage door assembly comprising an aperture frame and at least two first guide track sets, the aperture frame including on opposite sides thereof two mutually juxtaposed, in-use vertically extending further guide tracks and a bracing member rigidly interconnecting the further guide tracks; the first guide track sets being respectively hingedly secured to the aperture frame at or adjacent to the further guide tracks so as to be foldable between a storage / so transportation configuration in which the first guide track sets overlie one another and are substantially flush with the aperture frame; and an in-use configuration in which the first guide track sets lie mutually juxtaposed and protruding horizontally from the aperture frame on opposite sides thereof with each said first guide track set defining a horizontally extending continuation of an associated said further guide track. s

For the avoidance of doubt, "substantially flush" as used herein means folded against the remainder of the frame, in the manner of the arms of spectacles. Therefore when occupying their transportation / storage configuration the horizontally extending guide track sets protrude from the lo rear of the remainder of the garage door assembly by their own thicknesses only; whereas when occupying their in-use configuration they protrude from the rear by their length. This provides a unit of sufficient thinness that an economical number of them are transportable together, ea. within the load space of a curtain-sided trailer.

The provision of the components of the frame of the garage door assembly secured together as a single unit, having portions that in storage and/or transit fold substantially flat, means that all the parts of the frame forming the garage door assembly can be transported together as a single packing so item, without any requirement for parts of the frame to be shipped separately.

Furthermore, the erection of the garage door assembly on site is particularly quick and convenient since it is necessary, following securing of the :5 vertically extending guide tracks at the sides of the garage door aperture, simply to hinge the first extending guide track sets from a transport / storage position to an operative position extending into the garage interior.

Thereafter it is a simple step to lock the guide track sets in place (ea. using bolts or pins) and secure them as necessary to the interior of the garage ea.

so by means of hangers protruding downwardly from the roof area of the garage.

The door panels can then readily be fed as necessary into the tracks.

In this regard the door panels may conveniently be pre-hinged, ie. they may s be joined one to another in the factory and shipped as a connected train of panels having protrusions that are readily insertable into the guide tracks.

In an alternative, preferred arrangement the protrusions of the train of panels are pre-inserted into the guide tracks, whereby the panels and the lo frame members are transportable and installable as a unit requiring minimal installation work.

In practice the bracing member rigidly interconnects the further guide tracks adjacent their in-use upper ends, as is conventional in garage door framework assemblies.

Conveniently the assembly includes a link member rigidly secured to each said first guide track and pivotably secured to the bracing member adjacent a respective further guide track so as to permit pivoting of the first guide track set, to which the link member is secured, about an inuse vertically extending axis.

Also preferably each first guide track set is pivotally secured to a said further guide track so as to permit pivoting of the first guide track set about the said axis.

The aforementioned features advantageously permit the hinging of the first guide track sets at two locations on the remainder of the assembly. This improves the overall strength and robustness of the assembly.

Also preferably the axis is inclined at an angle of approximately 15 to the vertical.

This feature allows the first guide track sets to lie at angles to the further guide tracks and bracing member when occupying the transportation / storage configuration thereby advantageously reducing the overall dimensions of the assembly when so configured.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention each further guide track includes protruding therefrom a plate against which a said first guide lo track set abuts when in its in-use configuration, the assembly including a lock member for locking each first guide track set to an adjacent said plate when so configured.

The presence of the plate against which the further guide track sets abut when in their in use configurations conveniently allows for the use of a quickly applied locking member. This may be ea. a pin that cooperates with a part of the associated further guide track set protruding through the aforesaid plate; or even a pair of mutually aligned holes in the plate and the first guide track set, through which a bolt may be inserted and secured by means of a nut.

Other locking member arrangements such as but not limited to clips; countersunk bolts with "Nyloc" loose nuts or captive nuts; and rivets, will occur to those of skill in the relevant art.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention each first guide track set includes an upper guide track secured to a lower guide track, the lower guide track when in its in-use configuration defining a horizontally extending continuation of a said further guide track.

This arrangement conveniently permits the inclusion, in the assembly of the invention, of an in use top door panel that is retained movably captive relative to the upper guide tracks of the first guide track sets.

The assembly of the invention also preferably includes in use a first lower door panel that is hingedly secured to the said top door panel and retained movably captive relative to the lower guide tracks of the first guide track sets and the further guide tracks, the top door panel and the first, lower door panel defining a pair of hingedly interconnected panels.

lo The use of upper and lower guide tracks constituting each first guide track set advantageously provides for the correct loci of the panels when moving between their closed and open positions.

In a practical embodiment of the invention the assembly includes a plurality of second, lower door panels hingedly secured together one beneath the other and retained movably captive relative to the lower guide tracks of the first guide track sets and the further guide tracks, thereby defining a series of pairs of hingedly interconnected door panels.

to The precise number of second, lower door panels may be selected according to the requirements of the garage door designer.

Preferably each lower panel of a said pair of hingedly interconnected door panels includes an elongate upper edge having a convexly curved portion on the, in-use, front of the assembly; and each upper panel of a said pair of hingedly interconnected door panels includes an elongate, downwardly projecting skirt that on hinging of the panels of the said pair one relative to the other travels, with clearance, around the convexly curved portion; so the upper edge of the said lower panel and the skirt of the said upper panel being so shaped that when the said panels lie generally parallel one another there is defined, on the face of the panels visible from the front of the assembly, a groove having two substantially intersecting sides that diverge from one another at an angle of 90 so as to provide an "anti-pinch" arrangement at the front of the assembly.

Such an arrangement advantageously confers neatness on the front (outwardly facing) side of the garage door assembly. The features are desirable since it is otherwise difficult to produce an aesthetically pleasing joint between two panels that are formed from GRP.

Conveniently the panels of each said pair are secured one to the other by at least one hinge having a pair of leaves secured respectively to the upper and the lower panel of the said pair, so as to space the panels one from the other in use and transmit forces therebetween.

As indicated, the resulting train of panels preferably is pre-assembled, with the correct spacing between adjacent panels, in a factory environment before delivery to the installation site.

go The ability to pre-assemble the panels, for example using an accurate jig in the factory, very substantially reduces the complexity of the garage door assembly since there is no need to provide features permitting abutment of the panels on site.

Preferably the assembly includes a further anti-pinch arrangement defined on the in use rear face of each said pair of panels.

More particularly, the rear face of each panel of a said pair may preferably include secured thereto at a free edge a hollow member including a wall so facing the other panel of the pair, the said walls of the panels of the pair diverging from one another at an angle of at least 35 to define a tapering recess therebetween.

A further, optional anti-pinch feature on the rear face is that of the pivot of the or each hinge interconnecting the said panels lying within the recess.

Additionally or alternatively, the pivot of at least one hinge interconnecting the said panels of the or each said pair of panels includes a spindle that protrudes beyond the lateral extent of the panels and is moveably retained relative to a said guide track.

Yet a further optional rear anti-pinch feature resides in that the or each said hinge interconnecting the panels of each said pair includes at least one hinge leaf at least a part of which protrudes relative to the in-use rear face of the assembly, the said part supporting a spindle that protrudes beyond the Is lateral extent of the panels of the pair and that is movably retained relative to a said guide track.

Thus the assembly of the invention advantageously includes both front and rear anti-pinch features, in combination with the features of the frame defined hereinabove.

Preferably the assembly includes a further cross-bracing member that is rcleasably securable respectively: (i) interconnecting the further guide tracks; and :5 (ii) when the first guide track sets occupy the in-use configuration, interconnecting the first guide track sets.

In its broad forms, however, the invention disclosed herein may incorporate any of the anti-pinch features of Claims 11 to 18 hereof in the absence of the features of Claims 1 to 10.

There now follows a description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of non-limiting example, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a garage door assembly, s according to the invention, shown with a pair of first guide track sets folded to a transport / storage position; Figure 2 shows an enlargement of the upper right hand corner of the garage door assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows in perspective view the Figure 1 arrangement, with lo one of the first guide track sets in its operative position; Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of the garage door assembly of the invention, showing one of the first guide track sets folded fully to its operative position, and the other folded part-way to such a position; Is Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the garage door assembly of the invention in the vicinity of one of the first guide track sets, when the latter is folded to its operative position; Figure 6 is a side elevational view, from the opposite side of the garage door assembly to that shown in Figure 5, showing the general to arrangement of the door panels relative to the guide tracks; Figures 7a and 7b show an anti-pinch arrangement, in accordance with the invention, on the front face of the panels of the garage door assembly of the invention, together with one preferred form of anti-pinch arrangement on the rear face thereof; as Figure 8 shows a further anti-pinch arrangement on the rear face; Figure 9 shows a modification of the Figure 7 arrangement; and Figures lea and lOb show yet a further anti-pinch arrangement on the rear face.

so Referring to the drawings there is shown a garage door assembly 10 according to the invention.

The assembly 10 comprises an aperture frame signified generally by reference numerals 11.

The assembly 10 also includes two first guide track sets 12 and 13; and, on opposite sides of the aperture frame, two mutually juxtaposed, in-use vertically extending further guide tracks 14 and 16.

As is conventional in garage door aperture frames, the assembly of the lo invention also includes a horizontally extending bracing member 17 rigidly interconnecting the further guide tracks 14, 16 at the top of the aperture frame 1 1.

The dotted line 15 visible at base of the assembly 10 shows the position of a further cross-bracing member.

During transit / storage of the assembly 10 the bracing member prevents splaying of the further guide tracks 14, 16; and provides a measure of protection for the lowermost of a series of door panels (described in more so detail below) forming part of the apparatus of the invention.

The bracing members 15, 17, the guide tracks 14, 16 and the guide track sets 12, 13 preferably are formed (ea. roll formed) from a metal such as mild steel. Consequently the bracing member 17 may conveniently be secured to the further guide tracks 14, 16 by any convenient means such as but not limited to rivets, screws and/or welds.

As best shown in Figure 4, the aperture frame 11 constituted by the bracing member 17, the further guide tracks 14 and 16 and further components so described below are in use of the garage door assembly of the invention screwed or otherwise fixed to the wall 18 of a garage or similar building that has formed therein a garage door aperture.

The aperture frame components 11 of the assembly are secured so as to define, with the floor 19, the boundary of an aperture in a garage or similar building.

As is conventional in the construction of sectional and other garage door assemblies, the bracing member 17 supports a mechanism providing assistance during the lifting of the garage door panels.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, therefore, the bracing member 17 supports rigidly secured thereto a drive spindle 21 that extends from one end of member 17 to the other and is journalled at either end so as to be rotatable relative to member 17.

At each respective free end, drive spindle 21 has rigidly secured thereto a bobbin 22 around which is wound a drive cable 23 (Figure 6) that is connected to the door panels.

A tension spring 24 encircles the drive spindle 21. At the right hand end 26 of drive spindle 21 the tension spring 24 is fixed to the bracing member 17.

Approximately 2/3 of the way betwocn the right hand and left hand ends of drive spindle 21, at 27, tension spring 24 is secured to drive spindle 21.

During assembly of the aperture frame in a factory, the drive spring 24 is twisted to a predetermined tension such that on attachment of the door panels to the drive cable 23 the tendency of the tension spring 24 to unwind provides a force, acting on the door panels, that supports a substantial so portion of their mass.

As a consequence the panels appear massless or light over the major part of their travel, the locus of which is described in more detail below.

The first guide track sets 12, 13 are hingedly secured to the aperture frame 11 respectively at or adjacent the further guide tracks 14, 16.

More specifically, the first guide track sets 12, 13 are so hinged adjacent the in-use top ends of the respective further guide tracks 14, 16.

lo As a consequence of such hinging, the first guide track sets are movable or foldable from a storage / transportation configuration as shown in Figure 1, in which the first guide track sets 12, 13 overlie one another and are substantially flush with the aperture frame 11; and an inuse configuration in which the first guide track sets 12, 13 lie mutually juxtaposed and protruding horizontally from the aperture frame on opposite sides thereof.

The in-use configuration is shown for example in Figures 3, 4 (partially), 5 and 6.

Jo Each guide track set 12, 13 includes respective upper (28) and lower (29) guide tracks.

When the first guide track sets 12, 13 are in the storage / transportation configuration shown in Figure 1, neither of the guide tracks 28, 29 of each set is connected to a further guide track 14, 16; but when adopting the configuration shown ea. in Figures 3, 5 and 6 the lower guide track 29 of each first guide track set 12, 13 defines a continuation of an associated further guide track 14, 16. To this end at least the lower guide tracks 29 of each guide track set 12, 13 are of the same profile as the further guide tracks so 14, 16.

Each guide track set 12, 13 includes an approximately L-shaped link member 31 rigidly secured to the top of each respective upper guide track 28, ea. by welding.

s Each link member 31 extends inclinedly upwardly from the top of the associated upper guide track 28, and also turns inwardly to meet the bracing member 17, that conveniently is a channel section member open on its face facing the interior of the garage, as indicated at 32, a short distance along the bracing member 17 from the point of its attachment to each further lo guide track 14, 16.

Consequently each location 32 defines a pivot point, at which an inclined bracket 33 accommodates the inclination of the link member 31.

A pivot member such as but not limited to a pin passes through mutually aligned apertures in the bracket 33 and the adjacent free end of link member 31, to define a hinge at which, via link member 31, each respective guide track set 12, 13 is hingedly to the bracing member 17.

JO The free end of each lower guide track 29, which guide track terminates in an approximately 90 arc as best shown in Figure 2, includes a further, inclined bracket 34 that rests on yet a further bracket 36 secured to an associated said further guide track 14, 16.

as A pin or similar hinge member (not shown in the drawings) is received in mutually aligned apertures in the respective brackets 34, 36, whereby each first guide track set 12, 13 is hingedly secured to an associated said further guide track 14, 16 at a location spaced a short distance below the bracing member 17.

The angles subtended by the link member 31 and the various brackets 33, 34 and 36 are such that the two points of hinging of each first guide hack set 12, 13 define, for each such guide track set, a common axis of pivoting 37 (as best shown in Figure 3).

s The pivot axis 37 extends vertically and is inclined to the vertical preferably at an angle of approximately 15 .

This permits the first guide track sets 12, 13 to adopt their inclined (crossing over) position shown in Figure 1 (in which the first guide track sets 12, 13 lo clear the bracing member 17 and components supported thereby); and also allows them to extend generally horizontally when occupying their in-use configuration.

The free end of each respective upper (28) and lower (29) guide track terminates in a curved portion. The radius of curvature of the lower guide track 29 is the same as that of the upper guide track 28 in each first guide track set 12, 13. However, the upper track 28 is spaced forwardly, and truncated, relative to the lower track 29. Consequently the free ends of the guide tracks 28, 29 diverge from one another in the vicinity of the further so guide tracks 14, 16. The upper and lower guide tracks 28, 29 are secured one to another in the zone of divergence by a fish-plate 38 that rigidities the arrangement of the upper and lower guide tracks 28, 29 in this area.

Each further guide track 14, 16 is in the embodiment shown supported on an Is L-section member 39 that includes mutually perpendicular, elongate plates 41, 42 extending the length of each further guide track 14, 16.

As best shown in Figure 4, each plate 41 on installation of the garage door assembly abuts the wall 18 of the garage adjacent the aperture therein.

so Consequently each plate 41 is usable to secure the assembly 10 in the garage door aperture, by means of masonry screws inserted via apertures 43 in the respective plates 41.

Each plate 42 supports a said further guide track 14, 16. In addition each plate 42 protrudes a short distance above its associated guide track 14, 16. s Consequently each plate 42 provides an abutment that limits the movement

of each first guide track set 12, 13 towards its in-use configuration.

In the preferred embodiment shown the plates 42 prevent each first guide lo track set 12, 13 from folding to beyond 90 from the bracing member 17.

Furthermore each plate 42 provides a convenient location at which the first guide track sets 12, 13 are securable in their in-use configurations.

Is More specifically, it is possible rigidly to connect the first guide tracks 12, 13 to the adjacent plates 42 ea. by means of clips, screws or nut and bolts, as aforesaid, passing through mutually aligned holes or even ea. pins dropping in the manner of hasps into parts of the first guide track sets 12, 13, protruding via apertures through the respective plates 42.

When the first and second guide track sets 12, 13 occupy their in-use configurations a top door panel 44 (Figures 1 and 6) is retained movably captive relative to the upper guide tracks 28.

This is by reason of the top door panel 44 having protruding at each side therefrom a spindle 46 that terminates in a roller 47.

Each roller 47 is retained rotatably and movably captive in a said upper guide track 28, by reason of the profile of the guide track 28.

Each upper guide track 28 is a hollow, channel-section member defining on its side adjacent the top panel 44 and elongate, arcuate slot through which the associated spindle 46 but not the roller 47 may pass.

Consequently the top panel 44 is movable according to a locus defined by s the respective upper guide tracks 28.

A first, lower door panel 48 is hingedly secured to the lower edge of the top door panel 44.

lo Securing of the first lower door panel 48 is by way of hinges described in more detail below. The arrangement is such that first, lower door panel 48 and top panel 44 define a flexible train of panels.

First lower door panel 48 is retained movably captive relative to the lower Is guide tracks 29 of the first guide track sets and also relative to the further guide tracks, when as described hereinabove the lower guide tracks and the further guide tracks connect one to another.

The manner of movable retention of the first lower door panel 48 is similar So or identical to that of the top door panel 44 relative to the upper guide tracks 28.

Thus on each side of first lower door panel 48 a spindle 46 protrudes and terminates in a roller 47 that is retained movably captive in the tracks 14, 29 as or 16, 29 as appropriate, by reason of the track profile.

In the embodiment shown, two further lower panels 49, 51 are hingedly secured in a series beneath the first lower door panel 48, by hinges.

so Each further lower door panel 49, 51 is retained movably captive relative to the further guide tracks 14, 16 and the lower guide tracks 29, in the same way as the first lower panel 48.

Thus the four door panels 44, 48, 49 and 41 define a series of hingedly interconnected panels.

As noted the locus of the top panel 44 is defined by the upper guide tracks 28.

The locus of the lower door panels 48, 49 and 51 is defined by the further lo guide tracks 14, 16 and the lower guide tracks 29.

In practice, as implied by Figure 1, the panels 44, 48, 49 and 51 are preassembled to define the aforesaid series, and retained in the guide tracks during manufacture of the garage door assembly 10. Therefore the garage Is door assembly 10 is deliverable to an installation site as a discrete unit requiring no further parts for its completion.

As best shown in Figures 7a and 7b, each door panel 44, 48, 49 and 51 includes an ABS or GRP sheet 52.

Each such sheet 52 may include on its front face 52a embossments andlor other design features intended to provide an attractive appearance.

Adjacent its upper and lower ends each sheet 52 has rigidly secured thereto on its inner face 52b an in-use horizontally extending channel section member 53 that rigidities the sheet 52.

Each channel section member 53 terminates at either end in a further channel section member 54 extending in-use vertically, to rigidify the side so edges of the sheets 52.

The elongate, in-use horizontally extending upper edge of each panel includes a portion 55 that appears convexly curved when viewed from the front of the garage door assembly 10.

At its lower edge each panel 44, 48, 49, 51 includes a downwardly depending, horizontally extending elongate skirt 56 that terminates closely adjacent, but not touching, the convexly curved portion 55.

Thus when the panels of each adjacent, hingedly connected pair hinge one lo relative to the other, the skirt 56 travels with a small clearance around the arc defined by the convexly curved portion 55.

The arrangement of the hinging between adjacent panels is such as to maintain a constant gap between the skirt 56 and the convexly curved portion 55, such gap being sufficiently small that it is impossible to insert ea. human fingers thereinto.

The upper part of each lower panel, just below the convexly curved portion 55, presents on the front face of the garage door assembly 10 an optional to chamfered portion 57.

The skirt 56 presents a further, optional chamfered portion 58 that is a mirror image of chamfered portion 57.

Each chamfer 57, 58 subtends an angle of 45 to the horizontal when the door panels occupy their closed position, mutually aligned one above another. Consequently the joint between the adjacent panels of each pair appears as an elongate, horizontal, V-shaped depression the walls of which diverge at a sufficiently large angle that it is impossible to trap fingers in it; so although the primary design reason for inclusion of the chamfers is to neaten the appearance of the joints between adjacent panels.

Thus the arrangement of the invention provides so-called "anti-pinch" features at the front of the assembly, regardless of the angle to which respective, adjacent panels hinge relative to one another during their travel along the various guide tracks.

As best shown in Figure 1, the pairs of panels are hingedly secured together at three horizontally spaced locations, respectively at either side and in the middle of the rear face of the door assembly 10.

The hinges 59 in the middle of the rear face are substantially conventional leaf hinges.

The arrangements of the hinges 61 at the edges of the panels are described in more detail below. All the hinges, however, are such as to maintain a constant, preferred spacing between the adjacent panels with forces transmitted from panel to panel via the hinges, rather than by way of contact between adjacent panels themselves.

so Such an arrangement permits the pre-assembly of the series of panels in a factory, with the correct spacings, thereby avoiding the need for special measures to space the panels from one another during erection of the garage door assembly at an installation site.

As best shown in Figures 7a and 7b, the horizontally extending channel section members 53 each present, on the inner face of the garage door assembly l O. a wall facing the next adjacent panel of the hingedly connected pair.

As is visible in Figure 7a, the downwardly facing wall 62 of the channel section member 53 of the upper panel of a said pair is inclined at an angle of 35 to the horizontal when the adjacent panels are parallel to one another and vertically aligned.

In the embodiment shown the wall 63 of the channel section member 53 of s the lower panel of a said pair extends horizontally.

Consequently the walls 62, 63 diverge one from another at an angle of at least 35 , whereby regardless of the degree of hinging of the inner faces of the panels towards one another there remains a tapered recess defined on the lo rear face, that is large enough to prevent crushing of fingers or other objects inserted therein.

This arrangement is best illustrated in Figure 7b. Thus the assembly of the invention includes anti-pinch features on the rear faces of the panels, as well Is as on the front faces.

The permanent existence of the recess 64 between each adjacent pair of panels on the rear faces thereof permits the use of a hinge having its pivot point and hinge pin 66 lying within the recess 64.

This is an advantageously compact arrangement.

Since the channel section members 53 extend across the entire width of each panel, so too does the recess 64. Consequently the pivot pins 66 of all Is the hinges 59, 61 may if desired lie within the recesses 64.

As best shown in Figure 8, optionally the spindle 66 may if desired serve as the spindle 46 supporting the roller 47 at each side of each panel. Thus each spindle 66 would protrude beyond the lateral extent of its associated panel so so as to have a free end that is movably retained relative to one of the guide tracks.

An alternative arrangement however is to provide at least one leaf of each side hinge 51 with a part 67 that protrudes relative to the in-use rear face of the assembly. The said part 67 supports a spindle 70 that protrudes beyond s the lateral extent of the associated panel on either side thereof, to be movably retained relative to a said guide track.

Figures 7, 9 and 10 show variants of this feature. The Figure 10 arrangement includes a protruding part 67 having a return 68 that rejoins lo the adjacent channel section member 54 below the spindle 70 so as to provide additional reinforcement; whereas in Figures 7 and 9 the said parts 67 are deemed merely as the limbs of conventional, L-section brackets.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 additionally show optional variants on the profiles of the ABS or GRP sheets 52 and the channel section members 53, so as to provide further, anti-pinch features on the rear face of the assembly 10.

As is evident from the foregoing description, the garage door assembly 10 of the invention is substantially pre-built in a factory, before delivery to an installation site.

Erection of the assembly involves a very straightforward process.

The installer initially removes the further cross bracing member, represented by numeral 15, from the base of the assembly 10.

The installer needs then only to secure the plates 41 to the edges of the door aperture, and subsequently hinge the first guide track sets 12, 13 to their operative positions. Thereafter he must simply lock the first guide track so sets 12, 13 in the operative positions; as necessary secure any hangers needed for the free ends of the first guide track sets 12, 13, inside the garage; and secure in place the rollers and spindles of the topmost panels (which rollers and spindles are removed for the duration of the transit and/or storage of the door assembly). Thereafter the garage door is essentially ready for use, the tension in the tension spring 24 having been previously s adjusted in the factory.

As one of the last steps in the erection process the installer secures the cross-bracing member 15 interconnecting the free ends of the first and second guide track sets 12, 13, so as to act as a spacer / tie bar lo interconnecting them.

Consequently the arrangement of the invention represents very significant installation time savings compared with all the arrangements of the prior art.

Claims

1. A garage door assembly comprising an aperture frame and at least two first guide track sets, the aperture frame including on opposite sides thereof two mutually juxtaposed, in-use vertically extending further guide tracks and a bracing member rigidly interconnecting the further guide tracks; the first guide track sets being respectively hingedly secured to the aperture frame at or adjacent to the further guide tracks so as to be foldable between a storage / transportation configuration in which the first guide lo track sets overlie one another and are substantially flush with the aperture frame; and an in-use configuration in which the first guide track sets lie mutually juxtaposed and protruding horizontally from the aperture frame on opposite sides thereof with each said first guide track set defining a horizontally extending continuation of an associated said further guide track.

2. A garage door assembly according to Claim 1 including a link member rigidly secured to each said first guide track and pivotably secured to the bracing member adjacent a respective further guide track so as to so permit pivoting of the first guide track set, to which the link member is secured, about an in-use vertically extending axis.

3. A garage door assembly according to Claim 2 wherein each first guide track set is pivotably secured to a said further guide track so as to :5 permit pivoting of the first guide track set about the said axis.

4. A garage door assembly according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the axis is inclined at an angle of approximately 15 to the vertical.

so

5. A garage door assembly according to Claim 2 or any preceding claim depending therefrom, wherein each further guide track includes protruding therefrom a plate against which a said first guide track set abuts when in its in-use configuration, the assembly including a lock member for locking each first guide track set to an adjacent said plate when so configured.

6. A garage door assembly according to any preceding claim wherein each first guide track set includes an upper guide track secured to a lower guide track, the lower guide track when in its in-use configuration defining a horizontally extending continuation of a said further guide track.

lo

7. A garage door assembly according to Claim 6 including in-use a top door panel retained movably captive relative to the upper guide tracks of the first guide track sets.

8. A garage door assembly according to Claim 7 including in-use a Is first, lower door panel that is hingedly secured to the said top door panel and retained movably captive relative to the lower guide tracks of the first guide track sets and the further guide tracks, the top door panel and the first, lower door panel defining a pair of hingedly interconnected panels.

9. A garage door assembly according to Claim 8 including a plurality of second, lower door panels hingedly secured together one beneath the other and retained movably captive relative to the lower guide tracks of the first guide track sets and the further guide tracks, thereby defining a series of pairs of hingedly interconnected door panels.

10. A garage door assembly according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein: each lower panel of a said pair of hingedly interconnected door panels includes an elongate upper edge having a convexly curved portion on the, in-use, front of the assembly; each upper panel of a said pair of hingedly interconnected door panels includes an elongate, downwardly projecting skirt that on hinging of the panels of the said pair one relative to the other travels, with clearance, around the convexly curved portion; and the upper edge of the said lower panel and the skirt of the said upper panel are so shaped that when the said panels lie generally parallel one another there is defined, on the face of the panels visible from the front of the assembly, a groove having two substantially intersecting sides that diverge from one another at an angle of 90 so as to provide an "anti-pinch" arrangement at the front of the assembly.

lo

11. An assembly according to Claim 8 or any preceding claim depending therefrom, wherein the panels of each said pair are secured one to the other by at least one hinge having a pair of leaves secured respectively to the upper and the lower panel of the said pair, such as to space the panels one from the other in use and transmit forces therebetween.

12. A garage door assembly according to Claim 10 or Claim 11 when dependent from Claim 11, including a further anti-pinch arrangement defined on the in-use rear face of each said pair of panels.

13. A garage door assembly according to Claim 12 wherein the rear face of each panel of a said pair includes secured thereto at a free edge a hollow member including a wall facing the other panel of the pair, the said walls of the panels of the pair diverging from one another at an angle of at least 35 to define a tapering recess therebetween.

14. A garage door assembly according to Claim 13 wherein the pivot of the or each hinge interconnecting the said panels of the or each said pair lies within the recess.

so

15. A garage door assembly according to Claim 13 or Claim 14 wherein the pivot of at least one hinge interconnecting the said panels of the or each said pair of panels includes a spindle that protrude beyond the lateral extent of the panels and is moveably retained relative to a said guide track.

16. A garage door assembly according to Claim 13 or Claim 14 wherein s the or each said hinge interconnecting the panels of each said pair includes at least one hinge leaf at least a part of which protrudes relative to the in-use rear face of the assembly, the said part supporting a spindle that protrudes beyond the lateral extent of the panels of the pair and that is movably retained relative to a said guide track.

17. A garage door assembly according to any preceding claim including a further cross-bracing member that is releasably securable respectively: (i) interconnecting the further guide tracks; and (ii) when the first guide track sets occupy the in-use Is configuration, interconnecting the first guide track sets.

18. A garage door assembly generally as herein described, with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.