Title of Invention	"A BUILDING DOOR CONSISTING OF SEVERAL MUTUALLY ARTICULATED PANELS"
Abstract	The invention concerns a building door consisting of several panels (5) guided along a curvilinear guide rail such that said panels remain more or less parallel to the rail and mutually articulated about hinge pins (10) parallel to their longitudinal edges through pivoting elements (9). The invention is characterized in that the panels (5) are provided at their longitudinal edges with male and female anti-finger catching complementary profiles, and in that the hinge pins (10) of the pivoting elements (9) are at least more or less coplanar to the inner walls (6) of the panels (5) whereto they are articulated and in that the pivoting elements (9) are linked to the transverse edges of the panels (5). Said door is simple, aesthetic and its structure enables prevention of accidents caused by pinching, in particular finger catching(Fig 2a).

Title of Invention

"A BUILDING DOOR CONSISTING OF SEVERAL MUTUALLY ARTICULATED PANELS"

Abstract

The invention concerns a building door consisting of several panels (5) guided along a curvilinear guide rail such that said panels remain more or less parallel to the rail and mutually articulated about hinge pins (10) parallel to their longitudinal edges through pivoting elements (9). The invention is characterized in that the panels (5) are provided at their longitudinal edges with male and female anti-finger catching complementary profiles, and in that the hinge pins (10) of the pivoting elements (9) are at least more or less coplanar to the inner walls (6) of the panels (5) whereto they are articulated and in that the pivoting elements (9) are linked to the transverse edges of the panels (5). Said door is simple, aesthetic and its structure enables prevention of accidents caused by pinching, in particular finger catching(Fig 2a).

Full Text	The invention relates to a building door, that can move, made up of several panels guided along at least one curvilinear" guide rail and articulated to one another about axes of pivoting parallel to their longitudinal edges by virtue of pivot elements. Such a door is known. It may exhibit panels the length of which is equal to the height of the opening that is to be closed off, and may be able to move horizontally, or may exhibit panels the length of which is equal to the width of the opening that is to be closed off, and may be able to move vertically. The door is made up of various panels so that it can follow as closely as possible the direction of movement defined by the rails and so that the clearance space needed for opening the door can be reduced as far as possible. Such doors exhibit disadvantages. First of all, as the panels are able to rotate relative to one another as the door moves, it is necessary to leave a gap between two adjacent panels. The result of this is that draughts can pass through the door even when the door is closed. This problem has been solved through the use of panels facing edge profiles that complement one another in order to form a baffle-type seal and the use of seals. Next, an interior wall visible from inside the building and an exterior wall visible from outside the building are defined for the panels. These two walls, made of sheet or synthetic material, are separated from one another by a volume filled with a thermal and acoustic insulator. This structure of the panels means that two adjacent panels move closer together or further apart, at their interior walls and/or their exterior walls, when the door is moved and when these panels lie at points where the curvature of the rails change. These relative movements of the panels with respect to one another are particularly dangerous to fingers and may cause trapped fingers when the door is being driven by a user or by a mechanism. Special edge profiles for the panels, such as those described in patent US 4 718 472 afford a partial solution to this problem by making it possible to avoid these risks of trapping at the outer walls of the panels. Finally, the pivot elements that articulate the panels to one another consist of hinges fixed to the interior walls of the panels and distributed uniformly over their length. This solution is not very esthetically attractive and means that the axes of mutual articulation of the panels have to be sited on the outside of the thickness of the door unless grooves are milled in the panels for installing the hinges. This complicates the use of profiles such as those described in patent US 4 718 472 where the axis of articulation between two adjacent panels lies more or less in the middle of the thickness of the door. The object of the invention is to produce a building door that improves the doors of the prior art and alleviates the problems mentioned. In particular, the invention proposes to produce a door that is simple, esthetically attractive and the structure of which makes it possible to avoid the risks of accidents due to trapping, particularly the trapping of fingers. The door according to the invention is characterized in that the pivot elements are connected to the edges of the panels which are parallel to the movement direction of the door. The pivot elements are located on the panel edges only. In this way the panels pivoting axes are free situated in relation to the interior and exterior walls of the panels and to propose a door whose the interior and exterior walls are not provided with any connecting element between the panels. The axes of pivoting of the pivot elements are at least approximately coplanar with the interior walls of the panels which they articulate. The axes of pivoting being such a way located, a movement between the interior walls of two consecutive panels is almost null avoiding eventual risks of trapping on the interior wall of the door. The facing and perpendicular to the movement direction edges of two adjacent panels may exhibit two complementary male and female profiles. The pivot elements are advantageously provided with guide devices of the door within the guide rail/rails. The pivot elements have preferably a first part called male fixed to a panel, exhibiting a shaft the axis of which defines the axis of pivoting and a second part called female part fixed to a second panel exhibiting a drilling to take the shaft. The male and female parts of pivot elements connected to the same panel edge may form a single piece. The attached drawing depicts, by way of example, one embodiment of the door according to the invention. Figure 1 is a view in section of a door according to the invention. Figure 2a is a detailed side view of this door at a pivot element connecting two adjacent panels when these panels are in a curved region of the guide rail. Figure 2b is a detailed side view of a door according to the prior art at a pivot element connecting two adjacent panels when these are in a curved region of the guide rail. Figure 3 is a view similar to that of figure 2a when the panels are in a rectilinear region of the guide rail. Figure 4 is a side view of a pivot element for a vertically-moving door equipped with a guide roller. Figure 5 is a side view of an upper pivot element for a horizontally-moving door equipped with a guide carriage. Figure 6 is a side view of a lower pivot element for a horizontally-moving door equipped with a guide roller. The door 1 depicted in figure 1 allows an opening 2 made in a building 3 such as a garage opening to be closed off. This door 1 retracts vertically to allow passage through the opening 2. To do this, on each side of the opening, two symmetric rails 4 are fixed to the inside of the building 3 to its structure. These two rails 4 have a curvilinear shape, made up of a vertical rectilinear part 4a connected by a blend radius 4b to a horizontal rectilinear part 4c diverging from the opening 2 toward the inside of the building. Thus, once open, the door 1 is horizontal under the roof of the building. These rails are made, for example, of steel C-section. The door is made up of four panels 5 having a length roughly equal to the width of the opening 2. The walls 6, 7 of these panels, respectively defining the interior and exterior faces of the door 1, are made of steel sheet or synthetic material. The space between the interior 6 and exterior 7 walls is filled with a thermal and acoustic insulator 8 such as a polyurethane foam. The edges parallel to the direction of the rails 4 consist of a U-section 14 the two parallel flanges of which are connected to the interior 6 and exterior 7 walls of each panel. The adjacent panels 5 are joined together by pivot elements 9 depicted in figures 2 and 3 and which allow them to rotate relative to one another about axes of pivoting 10 parallel to the length of the panels 5. At each articulation between two panels 5 and at the two, top and bottom, ends of the door 1 there are, on each side of the door 1, connected to this door, rollers 12 with horizontal axes running in the rails 4. The diameter of these rollers is equal, less the operating clearance, to the distance separating the upper flanges of the rails 4 from their lower flanges. The facing longitudinal edges 13 of two adjacent panels 5 have complementary male and female shapes that nest together when the panels 5 move from a rail region 4b of high curvature to a region 4a, 4c of gentler curvature. These complementing shapes create a seal by acting as baffles to draughts. The pivot elements 9 are made of sheet. They are made up of a part 9a known as the male part exhibiting a shaft 15, for example welded, the axis of which defines the axis of pivoting 10, and of a part 9b known as the female part exhibiting a drilling 16 that takes the shaft 15. These two parts 9a and 9b are attached respectively to two adjacent panels 5. These connections are made by screws passing through the parts 9a and 9b and screwing into tappings made in the U-sections 14 that define the transverse edges of the panels 5. One of the two parts 9a or 9b advantageously has at least one tapped hole allowing the attachment, as depicted in figure 4, of a roller 12 that guides the door 1 in the rails 4. Such a structure of pivot element 9 makes it possible to site the axes of pivoting 10 where desired with respect to the thickness of the door panels 5, but also where desired with respect to the join between two consecutive panels. Thus, in the case of panels 5 exhibiting longitudinal edge profiles defined in figure 2a, this structure of pivot element allows the axes of pivoting to be located in the planes of the interior walls and thus allows any risk of trapping on the exterior face and on the interior face of the door to be avoided. If it is anticipated that the panels 5 will be connected by hinges 20 as known in the prior art and depicted in figure 2b, it may be pointed out that, when two adjacent panels are not aligned, dangerous gaps 21 and 22 appear on the interior and exterior faces of the door 1. In addition, the fact of positioning the axes of pivoting in the planes of the interior walls of the panels or in the thickness of the door makes it possible, when use is made of panels 5 exhibiting edge profiles defined in figure 2a, to use rails exhibiting a smaller blend radius and, therefore, to reduce the clearance space needed for opening the door. As the pivot elements exhibit parts attached to the edges of the panels, it is very practical, unlike in the devices known from the prior art, to fix the door guide rollers in the thickness of the panels. This allows the rails to be aligned with the transverse edges of the door and makes it possible to produce a more compact and esthetically attractive installation. . In this example, as in the previous one, each panel of the door is equipped with guide elements. Thus, at the top of the panels, the pivot elements depicted in figure 5 are equipped with articulated carriages 18 exhibiting two rollers running in the upper rail. At the bottom of the panels, the pivot elements With pivot elements 9 according to the invention, there is no longer a need to distribute hinges over the entire length of the panels, and there is thus a certain saving in terms of the number of pivot elements to be mounted, and the esthetic appearance of the interior face of the door is improved. In an alternative form of embodiment of the pivot elements 9, the parts 9a and 9b are produced by the U-sections 14. The ends of the sections have shapes that allow these sections to be articulated to one another. The pivot elements described may be applied to a horizontally-moving garage door. To allow this movement, at the top of the opening and at ground level, two symmetric horizontal rails are fixed to the interior of the building to its structure. These two rails have a curvilinear shape made up of a horizontal rectilinear part connected by a blend radius to a horizontal rectilinear part diverging from the opening toward the inside of the building. Thus, once open, the door is perpendicular to the opening, for example against a wall of the building. In this example, as in the previous one, each panel of the door is equipped with guide elements. Thus, at the top of the panels, the pivot elements depicted in figure 5 are equipped with articulated carriages 18 exhibiting two rollers running in the upper rail. At the bottom of the panels, the pivot elements depicted in figure 6 are equipped with rollers 19 of vertical axes running in the lower rail or with other guide elements sliding in an inverted or non-inverted U-shaped rail. We claim: 1. A building door (1) made up of several panels(5) guided along at least one curvilinear guide rail (4) in such a way that these panels remain at least approximately parallel to the rail and articulated to one another about axes of pivoting (10) parallel to their longitudinal edges by virtue of pivot elements (9), the panels (5) being equipped at their longitudinal edges with complementary male and female anti-trapping profiles, characterized in that the axes (10) of pivoting of the pivot elements (9) are at least approximately coplanar with the interior walls (6) of the panels (5) which they articulate, and in that the pivot elements (9) are connected to the transverse edges of the panels (5). 2. The door (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the devices (12, 18, 19) intended to collaborate with the curvilinear guide rail or rails (4) are in a pivot connection with the pivot elements in such a way that in the rectilinear portion of the rails, the rails (4) are at least approximately located within the thickness of the panels. 3. The door (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot elements (9) comprises a first part (9a) known as the male part secured to a transverse edge first panel (5), exhibiting a shaft (15) the axis of which defines the axis (10) of pivoting and a second part (9b) known as a female part, secured to the transverse edge of a second panel (5) exhibiting a drilling (16) that takes the shaft (15). 4. The door (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the male (9a) and female (9b) parts connected to one and the same panel edge form a single piece. 5. The door (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transverse edges of the panels consist of U-Section (14).

Full Text

The invention relates to a building door, that can move, made up of several panels guided along at least one curvilinear" guide rail and articulated to one another about axes of pivoting parallel to their longitudinal edges by virtue of pivot elements.
Such a door is known. It may exhibit panels the length of which is equal to the height of the opening that is to be closed off, and may be able to move horizontally, or may exhibit panels the length of which is equal to the width of the opening that is to be closed off, and may be able to move vertically.
The door is made up of various panels so that it can follow as closely as possible the direction of movement defined by the rails and so that the clearance space needed for opening the door can be reduced as far as possible.
Such doors exhibit disadvantages.
First of all, as the panels are able to rotate relative to one another as the door moves, it is necessary to leave a gap between two adjacent panels. The result of this is that draughts can pass through the door even when the door is closed. This problem has been solved through the use of panels facing edge profiles that complement one another in order to form a baffle-type seal and the use of seals.
Next, an interior wall visible from inside the building and an exterior wall visible from outside the building are defined for the panels. These two walls, made of sheet or synthetic material, are separated from one another by a volume filled with a thermal and acoustic insulator. This structure of the panels means that two adjacent panels move closer together or further apart,
at their interior walls and/or their exterior walls, when the door is moved and when these panels lie at points where the curvature of the rails change. These relative movements of the panels with respect to one another are particularly dangerous to fingers and may cause trapped fingers when the door is being driven by a user or by a mechanism. Special edge profiles for the panels, such as those described in patent US 4 718 472 afford a partial solution to this problem by making it possible to avoid these risks of trapping at the outer walls of the panels.
Finally, the pivot elements that articulate the panels to one another consist of hinges fixed to the interior walls of the panels and distributed uniformly over their length. This solution is not very esthetically attractive and means that the axes of mutual articulation of the panels have to be sited on the outside of the thickness of the door unless grooves are milled in the panels for installing the hinges. This complicates the use of profiles such as those described in patent US 4 718 472 where the axis of articulation between two adjacent panels lies more or less in the middle of the thickness of the door.
The object of the invention is to produce a building door that improves the doors of the prior art and alleviates the problems mentioned. In particular, the invention proposes to produce a door that is simple, esthetically attractive and the structure of which makes it possible to avoid the risks of accidents due to trapping, particularly the trapping of fingers.
The door according to the invention is characterized in that the pivot elements are connected to the edges of the panels which are parallel to the movement direction of the door. The pivot elements are located on the
panel edges only. In this way the panels pivoting axes are free situated in relation to the interior and exterior walls of the panels and to propose a door whose the interior and exterior walls are not provided with any connecting element between the panels.
The axes of pivoting of the pivot elements are at least approximately coplanar with the interior walls of the panels which they articulate. The axes of pivoting being such a way located, a movement between the interior walls of two consecutive panels is almost null avoiding eventual risks of trapping on the interior wall of the door.
The facing and perpendicular to the movement direction edges of two adjacent panels may exhibit two complementary male and female profiles.
The pivot elements are advantageously provided with guide devices of the door within the guide rail/rails.
The pivot elements have preferably a first part called male fixed to a panel, exhibiting a shaft the axis of which defines the axis of pivoting and a second part called female part fixed to a second panel exhibiting a drilling to take the shaft.
The male and female parts of pivot elements connected to the same panel edge may form a single piece.
The attached drawing depicts, by way of example, one embodiment of the door according to the invention.
Figure 1 is a view in section of a door according to
the invention.
Figure 2a is a detailed side view of this door at a pivot element connecting two adjacent panels when these
panels are in a curved region of the guide rail.
Figure 2b is a detailed side view of a door according to the prior art at a pivot element connecting two adjacent panels when these are in a curved region of the guide rail.
Figure 3 is a view similar to that of figure 2a when the panels are in a rectilinear region of the guide rail.
Figure 4 is a side view of a pivot element for a vertically-moving door equipped with a guide roller.
Figure 5 is a side view of an upper pivot element for a horizontally-moving door equipped with a guide carriage.
Figure 6 is a side view of a lower pivot element for a horizontally-moving door equipped with a guide roller.
The door 1 depicted in figure 1 allows an opening 2 made in a building 3 such as a garage opening to be closed off. This door 1 retracts vertically to allow passage through the opening 2. To do this, on each side of the opening, two symmetric rails 4 are fixed to the inside of the building 3 to its structure. These two rails 4 have a curvilinear shape, made up of a vertical rectilinear part 4a connected by a blend radius 4b to a horizontal rectilinear part 4c diverging from the opening 2 toward the inside of the building. Thus, once open, the door 1 is horizontal under the roof of the building. These rails are made, for example, of steel C-section.
The door is made up of four panels 5 having a length roughly equal to the width of the opening 2. The walls
6, 7 of these panels, respectively defining the interior and exterior faces of the door 1, are made of steel sheet or synthetic material. The space between the interior 6 and exterior 7 walls is filled with a thermal and acoustic insulator 8 such as a polyurethane foam. The edges parallel to the direction of the rails 4 consist of a U-section 14 the two parallel flanges of which are connected to the interior 6 and exterior 7 walls of each panel. The adjacent panels 5 are joined together by pivot elements 9 depicted in figures 2 and 3 and which allow them to rotate relative to one another about axes of pivoting 10 parallel to the length of the panels 5. At each articulation between two panels 5 and at the two, top and bottom, ends of the door 1 there are, on each side of the door 1, connected to this door, rollers 12 with horizontal axes running in the rails 4. The diameter of these rollers is equal, less the operating clearance, to the distance separating the upper flanges of the rails 4 from their lower flanges.
The facing longitudinal edges 13 of two adjacent panels 5 have complementary male and female shapes that nest together when the panels 5 move from a rail region 4b of high curvature to a region 4a, 4c of gentler curvature. These complementing shapes create a seal by acting as baffles to draughts.
The pivot elements 9 are made of sheet. They are made up of a part 9a known as the male part exhibiting a shaft 15, for example welded, the axis of which defines the axis of pivoting 10, and of a part 9b known as the female part exhibiting a drilling 16 that takes the shaft 15. These two parts 9a and 9b are attached respectively to two adjacent panels 5. These connections are made by screws passing through the parts 9a and 9b and screwing into tappings made in the
U-sections 14 that define the transverse edges of the panels 5. One of the two parts 9a or 9b advantageously has at least one tapped hole allowing the attachment, as depicted in figure 4, of a roller 12 that guides the door 1 in the rails 4.
Such a structure of pivot element 9 makes it possible
to site the axes of pivoting 10 where desired with
respect to the thickness of the door panels 5, but also
where desired with respect to the join between two
consecutive panels. Thus, in the case of panels 5
exhibiting longitudinal edge profiles defined in
figure 2a, this structure of pivot element allows the
axes of pivoting to be located in the planes of the
interior walls and thus allows any risk of trapping on
the exterior face and on the interior face of the door
to be avoided. If it is anticipated that the panels 5
will be connected by hinges 20 as known in the prior
art and depicted in figure 2b, it may be pointed out
that, when two adjacent panels are not aligned,
dangerous gaps 21 and 22 appear on the interior and
exterior faces of the door 1. In addition, the fact of
positioning the axes of pivoting in the planes of the
interior walls of the panels or in the thickness of the
door makes it possible, when use is made of panels 5
exhibiting edge profiles defined in figure 2a, to use
rails exhibiting a smaller blend radius and, therefore,
to reduce the clearance space needed for opening the
door.
As the pivot elements exhibit parts attached to the edges of the panels, it is very practical, unlike in the devices known from the prior art, to fix the door guide rollers in the thickness of the panels. This allows the rails to be aligned with the transverse edges of the door and makes it possible to produce a more compact and esthetically attractive installation.
.
In this example, as in the previous one, each panel of the door is equipped with guide elements. Thus, at the top of the panels, the pivot elements depicted in figure 5 are equipped with articulated carriages 18 exhibiting two rollers running in the upper rail. At the bottom of the panels, the pivot elements With pivot elements 9 according to the invention, there is no longer a need to distribute hinges over the entire length of the panels, and there is thus a certain saving in terms of the number of pivot elements to be mounted, and the esthetic appearance of the interior face of the door is improved.
In an alternative form of embodiment of the pivot elements 9, the parts 9a and 9b are produced by the U-sections 14. The ends of the sections have shapes that allow these sections to be articulated to one another.
The pivot elements described may be applied to a horizontally-moving garage door. To allow this movement, at the top of the opening and at ground level, two symmetric horizontal rails are fixed to the interior of the building to its structure. These two rails have a curvilinear shape made up of a horizontal rectilinear part connected by a blend radius to a horizontal rectilinear part diverging from the opening toward the inside of the building. Thus, once open, the door is perpendicular to the opening, for example against a wall of the building.
In this example, as in the previous one, each panel of the door is equipped with guide elements. Thus, at the top of the panels, the pivot elements depicted in figure 5 are equipped with articulated carriages 18 exhibiting two rollers running in the upper rail. At the bottom of the panels, the pivot elements depicted in figure 6 are equipped with rollers 19 of vertical axes running in the lower rail or with other guide elements sliding in an inverted or non-inverted U-shaped rail.

We claim:
1. A building door (1) made up of several panels(5) guided along at least one curvilinear guide rail (4) in such a way that these panels remain at least approximately parallel to the rail and articulated to one another about axes of pivoting (10) parallel to their longitudinal edges by virtue of pivot elements (9), the panels (5) being equipped at their longitudinal edges with complementary male and female anti-trapping profiles, characterized in that the axes (10) of pivoting of the pivot elements (9) are at least approximately coplanar with the interior walls (6) of the panels (5) which they articulate, and in that the pivot elements (9) are connected to the transverse edges of the panels (5).
2. The door (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the devices (12, 18, 19) intended to collaborate with the curvilinear guide rail or rails (4) are in a pivot connection with the pivot elements in such a way that in the rectilinear portion of the rails, the rails (4) are at least approximately located within the thickness of the panels.
3. The door (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot elements (9) comprises a first part (9a) known as the male part secured to a transverse edge first panel (5), exhibiting a shaft (15) the axis of which defines the axis (10) of pivoting and a second part (9b) known as a female part, secured to the transverse edge of a second panel (5) exhibiting a drilling (16) that takes the shaft (15).

4. The door (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the male (9a) and female (9b) parts connected to one and the same panel edge form a single piece.
5. The door (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transverse edges of the panels consist of U-Section (14).

Documents:

1734-DELNP-2005-Abstract-(05-06-2008).pdf

1734-DELNP-2005-Abstract-(28-08-2008).pdf

1734-delnp-2005-assignments.pdf

1734-DELNP-2005-Claims-(05-06-2008).pdf

1734-DELNP-2005-Claims-(28-08-2008).pdf

1734-DELNP-2005-Correspondence-Others-(05-06-2008).pdf

1734-delnp-2005-Correspondence-Others-(11-03-2008).pdf

1734-DELNP-2005-Correspondence-Others-(28-08-2008).pdf

1734-DELNP-2005-Description (Complete-(05-06-2008).pdf

1734-DELNP-2005-Description (Complete-28-08-2008.pdf

1734-DELNP-2005-Form-1-(05-06-2008).pdf

1734-DELNP-2005-Form-1-(28-08-2008).pdf

1734-DELNP-2005-Form-2-(05-06-2008).pdf

1734-DELNP-2005-Form-2-(28-08-2008).pdf

1734-delnp-2005-Others-Document-(11-03-2008).pdf

1734-delnp-2005-PCT-304-(11-03-2008).pdf

abstract.jpg

abstract.pdf

claims.pdf

complete specification.pdf

correspondence-others.pdf

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Patent Number

223001

Indian Patent Application Number

1734/DELNP/2005

PG Journal Number

37/2008

Publication Date

12-Sep-2008

Grant Date

01-Sep-2008

Date of Filing

28-Apr-2005

Name of Patentee

MANTION S.A.

Applicant Address

7, RUE GAY LUSSAC, F-25006 BESANCON FRANCE

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	REQUET CLAUDE ANDRE PIERRE	4, RUE ESSART BUZON, 25170 CHAUCENNE, FRANCE

PCT International Classification Number

E05D 15/06

PCT International Application Number

PCT/IB2003/005218

PCT International Filing date

2003-11-18

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	02/14457	2002-11-19	France