Segmented wind lock configuration for overhead roll-up doors and method of constructing the same.

(54) Title: SEGMENTED CONFIGURATION OF INSURANCE AGAINST WIND FOR THE UPPER SLIDING DOORS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION METHOD.

(54) Title: SEGMENTED WIND LOCK CONFIGURATION FOR OVERHEAD ROLL-UP DOORS AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING THE SAME.

(57) Summary

An overhead sliding door assembly is described for a vertically movable door to allow and prohibit access to an opening, the door assembly has a door panel with two faces and opposite side and side edges, and at least two anti-winding locks joined near each marginal edge. At least two anti-winding locks extend away from a face of the door panel in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, and are spaced vertically along each respective side edge of the door panel. The assembly further includes a drum for rolling and unwinding the door panel to allow and prohibit access to the opening, and, a pair of opposite parallel side columns aligned and spaced such that each of the opposite side edges engages a of the side columns in a manner in which at least a portion of the side columns direct the vertical movement of the door panel.

(57) Abstract

An overhead roll-up door assembly for a vertically moving door to permit and prohibit access to an opening, the door assembly having a door panel with two faces and opposing marginal and lateral edges, and at least two wind locks attached proximate each marginal edge. The at least two wind locks extend away from one face of the door panel in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, and are spaced apart vertically along each respective side edge of the door panel. The assembly further ineludes a drum for winding and unwinding the door panel to permit and prohibit access to the opening, and, a pair of opposing parallel side columns aligned and spaced apart such that each of the opposing side edges engage one of the side columns in a manner in which at least a portion of the side columns guide vertical movement of the door panel.

Mexican Institute of Industrial Property

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PATENT TITLE NO. 347146

Owner (s): RYTEC CORPORATION

Address: P O. Box 403, Jackson, Wisconsin, 53037-0403, USA

Name: SEGMENTED CONFIGURATION OF THE INSURANCE AGAINST THE WIND FOR THE UPPER SLIDING DOORS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION METHOD.

Classification: lnt.CI.8: E06B9 / 56

Inventorfes): BRIAN NORBERT DRIFKA; CHRISTOPHER GONTARSKI

REQUEST

Number: International filing date:

MX / a / 2013/010921 February 8, 2012

PRIORITY

<td>Country:</td><td>Date:</td><td>Number:</td>

<td>US</td><td>March 23, 2011</td><td> 61/466,922</td>

<td>US</td><td>September 13, 2011</td><td> 61/534,356</td>

<td>US</td><td>October 18, 2011</td><td> 13/275,403</td>

Validity: Twenty years

Expiration Date: February 8, 2032

The patented reference is granted based on articles 1. 2nd fraction V, 6^or Section III, and 59 of the Industrial Property Law.

In accordance with article 23 of the Industrial Property Law, this patent is valid for twenty years, non-extendable, counted from the filing date of the international application and will be subject to the payment of the fee to keep the rights in force. . ;

Whoever signs this title does so based on the provisions of articles III and 7 bis 2 of the Industrial Property Law (Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) 06/27/1991, amended 08/02 / 1994, 10/25/1996, 12/26/1997, 05/17/1999, 01/26/2004. 06/16/2005, 01/25/20Ó6. 05/06/2009,06/01/2010 , 06/18/2010, 06/28/2010, 01/27/2012 and 04/09/2012); articles 1 '3^or fraction V start a), 4^or and 12th sections I and III of the Regulations of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (DOF 12/14/1989, amended on 07/01/2002, 07/15/2004, 07/28/2004 and 09/07/2007) ; items 1^or, 3^or, 4^or, 5^or Section V subsection a), 16 sections I and III and 30 of the Organic Statute of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (DOF 12/27/1999, amended on 10/10/2002, 07/29/2004, 08/04/2004 and 09/13/2007); 1st, 3rd and 5^or Subsection a) of the Agreement that delegates powers to the Deputy General Directors, Coordinator, Divisional Directors, Heads of the Regional Offices, Divisional Deputy Directors, Departmental Coordinators and other subordinates of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property. (DOF 12/15/1999, amended on 02/04/2000, 07/29/2004, 08/04/2004 and 09/13/2007).

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MX / 2017/31824

SEGMENTED CONFIGURATION OF THE WIND INSURANCE FOR THE TOP SLIDING DOORS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION METHOD

Cross Reference to Related Request

This application claims priority over North American Provisional Application Serial Number 61 / 466,922 entitled “SEGMENTED WIND INSURANCE CONFIGURATION FOR SLIDING UPPER DOORS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION METHOD, filed on March 23, 2011; North American Provisional Application Serial Number 61 / 534,356 entitled "CONTINUOUS CONFIGURATION OF WIND INSURANCE FOR UPPER SLIDING DOORS," filed on September 13, 2011; and, to the US Patent Application Serial Number 13 / 275,403 entitled "SEGMENTED CONFIGURATION OF INSURANCE AGAINST WIND FOR DOORS

UPPER SLIDES AND THEIR METHOD OF

CONSTRUCTION ”, filed on October 18, 2011, the content of which is fully incorporated herein by reference. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to overhead sliding doors, and more specifically to a door panel for any overhead sliding door that has a

<img file="MX347146B_D0004.tif" />

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ΙΝΓΠΤνΤ · MUKANO DCIAHDHMMD INDUmUM Segmented wind lock to prevent door panel from disengaging from door assembly due to wind force.

Background of the Invention

Sliding top doors provide resistance to high winds and / or air pressure. These doors commonly include a door panel that has opposite side edges with which it engages with, and runs vertically into, the side columns. To improve the resistance of the door to high winds and / or air pressure, the opposite side edges of the door panel may include a continuous thick edge that engages the side columns when high winds “hit the door panel. However, there are at least three major disadvantages to using these known continuous thick side edges.

For example, these overhead sliding doors are commonly installed in high traffic areas with the potential to be struck by objects or vehicles when the door is open or closed. Although many of these doors include the features that allow the door panel to disengage when hit with such force, when a continuous thick edge is applied to opposite side edges of the door panel, the opposite edges can become stuck or jammed. on the side columns. If the continuous thick edges get stuck in the side columns, the door panel may not

IMPI ικπιτυτ · Mexican DCLAMttHKMD INDUSTRIAL

<img file="MX347146B_D0005.tif" />

be able to fully disengage from the side columns, increasing the likelihood of damage to the side columns, the door panel, the thick edges, or other components associated with the door panel, such as a bottom bar.

Also, if these thick side edges get stuck or jammed in the side column, the jam or jam can prevent the motor from lifting the door panel, potentially damaging the motor and preventing any self-healing features of the door panel from working. . To repair such doors and get the door panel to move vertically again, often a portion of the side column must be removed so that the thick continuous edge can be unstuck and placed back into the path of travel on the side column.

Another problem with the use of continuous wind locks is that they normally substantially increase the diameter of the door panel when it is wound substantially entirely on the drum in a substantially open position. A larger diameter requires a larger top which can be more expensive and therefore can result in a smaller opening.

Still another disadvantage of using continuous thick edges is that continuous thick edges can increase the overall weight of the door, creating additional stress on the motor that

<img file="MX347146B_D0006.tif" />

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INSTITUTO MEXICANO Dt LA MIOmDAD INDUSTRIAL controls the door while moving vArtkaim * ntP

In other state-of-the-art door designs, to improve the wind lock of the door panel, small protrusions or protrusions may be positioned near opposite edges of the door panel. These protrusions or protrusions normally engage a portion of a side column that directs the door, increasing the resistance of the door in response to the force of pressure from wind or air on the door. However, these protrusions or protrusions may offer less resistance than necessary, and under extreme forces such as high winds or forces imparted by objects hitting the door panel, such protrusions consequently or protrusions separate from the door panel, eliminating any proportionate advantage of resistance to wind load. To achieve the benefits of protrusions and protrusions once separated, protrusions or protrusions must be replaced on the door panel, requiring that the mating edge of the panel be exposed either by detaching it from the door panel or by removing it from a portion of the side column, which would render the door inoperable during the replacement process.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to design a top sliding door assembly and panel that have a wind lock capable of providing resistance to wind load. ⁵ Industrial PWOHÍDAC MUSIC INSTRUMENT is needed while allowing maximum clearance capacity if an object hits the door panel.

It would be more advantageous if the wind lock used in the mounting and on the door panel is capable of being rolled onto a drum without a substantially larger diameter, necessitating the use of a larger top, thereby reducing the opening size.

It would be more advantageous if the wind lock used in the door assembly could be made lightweight to reduce stress on some motors used to vertically move the door panel.

The present invention is aimed at solving these and other problems.

Brief Description of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a door assembly and door panel having a thick edged segmented wind lock to increase the wind load resistance of an overhead sliding door while maintaining substantial separation capacity or capacity. decoupling. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an overhead sliding door assembly for a vertically movable door that allows and prohibits access to an opening. The door assembly includes a door panel having two faces, a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposite side and marginal edges, a drum for rolling up and down the door panel to allow and prohibit access to the opening , and a pair of opposite parallel side columns aligned and spaced such that each of the opposed marginal edges engages one of the side columns in a manner in which at least a portion of the side columns direct the vertical travel of the panel. door as the door opens and closes.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, at least two vertically spaced thick edged wind locks capable of engaging a portion of a respective side column are attached close to each edge edge of the door panel. Providing two thick-edged wind locks along each edge of the door panel increases the wind load resistance of the door panel while the door is being opened and closed since the wind locks provide a increased thickness within the side columns, preventing disengagement of the door panel as a result of a wind load being applied to it, while providing substantial separation ability should an object strike the door panel since only the thick edge portions, rather than a continuous thick edge, must be pulled through the side columns.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the wind locks may include a thick body, an angled face that is opposite the inside of the configured opening.

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To engage a portion of the respective side column, and a substantially straight portion that extends substantially perpendicularly from a face of the door panel, the substantially straight portion is aligned with a side edge of the door panel. An angled wind lock engagement face can help maintain the substantial disengagement ability of the wind lock and door panel if an object hits the door or any of its components.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the thickness of each wind lock and the vertical distance at which each wind lock extends along the face of the door panel can be adjusted to meet the load characteristics. of the wind and separation of the door and the door panel. Providing a thicker and / or longer wind lock increases the size and surface area of ​​the wind lock, providing additional resistance to wind or air pressure compared to the door panel. In situations where less resistance to wind loading and more decoupling ability is required, as should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, either one or both of the thickness or vertical length of the wind lock can be reduced to reduce the surface area and the amount of windproof that must pass through the side column if an object hits the door or any of its components.

<img file="MX347146B_D0007.tif" />

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the wind locks can be made of a strong compressible material. The use of a strong compressible material for the wind locks, such as rubber, foam, or polyvinyl chloride ("PVC"), provides rigidity for the wind locks to prevent disengagement. door panel as a result of wind load or air pressure, while at the same time maintaining the ability to disengage if an object hits the door or any of its components since the wind locks can be compressed to improve accommodation through the separation of the side column to disengage. Other materials can be used in the same manner, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the door assembly may further include a material that covers at least a portion of the wind locks, and in some cases, at least a portion of the door panel along of the marginal edge between each wind lock. Covering the wind locks and the marginal edges of the door panel with a material that has a lower resistance than the wind locks or the door panel, such as the covering of a door panel of rubber or a rubber or PVC wind lock with a cloth or plastic material, can help reduce friction between the

<img file="MX347146B_D0008.tif" />

IMPI insurance against the wind and the MEXICAN wsrnvro Dt LA MtOMBlMD lateral columns of the door to help maintain the capacity of the coupling.

Covering portions of the door panel and / or wind locks with a friction-reducing material also has the added benefit of protecting the door panel and / or wind locks against friction forces. wind, reducing the amount of wear on the door panel and / or wind locks that results from engagement with the side columns.

According to another aspect of the invention, a strip of material can be attached to the face of the door panel to which the wind locks are not attached, that is, the face opposite the wind locks. As with covering at least the portions of the wind locks and / or the door panel between them, the placement of a fabric-like or plastic-like material on the opposite face of the door panel, It can reduce friction between the side columns on the door panel, protecting the door panel from wear and tear and maintaining detachability, while at the same time increasing an overall thickness of the door panel, thereby marginally increasing the wind load resistance thereof.

Other aspects and features of the invention will become clearer to those skilled in the art upon review of the following description, claims, and associated drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

<img file="MX347146B_D0009.tif" />

Figure 1 is a front view of a door assembly as contemplated by the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a door panel as contemplated by the invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of the door panel in a substantially open position as contemplated by this invention.

Figure 4 is a front view of a door panel as contemplated by the invention.

Figure 5 is a rear view of a door panel as contemplated by the invention.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the door assembly taken along line AA in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of Figure 2 with a portion of a side column removed.

Figure 8A is a cross-sectional view of the door panel taken along the line AA in Figure 1, showing one embodiment of a wind lock.

Figure 8B is a cross-sectional view of the door panel taken along line AA in Figure 1, showing one embodiment of a wind lock.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the door panel taken along line AA in Figure 1, showing

<img file="MX347146B_D0010.tif" />

shows a form of insurance against the wind.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the door assembly taken along line AA in Figure 1, showing one embodiment of a wind lock. Detailed description of the invention

Although the present invention is susceptible to representation in many different ways, it is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, the preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure should be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention. invention and that it is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the illustrated embodiments.

Figure 1 shows a door assembly 10 having the door panel 12, the drum 14 to roll up and unwind the door panel 12 to allow and prohibit access to an opening, the side columns 16, 18 that engage an edge edge of door panel 12 (and further directing door panel 12 between open and closed position) and top 20 to accommodate drum 14 and any unrolled portion of door panel 12.

Figure 2 shows an isolated view of the door panel 12 and of the drum 14 as contemplated in an embodiment of the invention. As seen in Figure 2, the door panel 12 includes a first face 22, opposite marginal edges 24, and opposite side edges 26. As you should appreciate

<img file="MX347146B_D0011.tif" />

to those skilled in the art, door panel 12 can be made of any flexible material known in the art, such as rubber or any cloth or nylon material capable of being used in a sliding overhead door panel.

At least two thick-edged wind locks 28 are attached to face 22 and are vertically spaced a distance D along each opposing marginal edge 24. Although four wind locks attached along each edge edge are shown in Figure 2, the invention contemplates that the number of wind locks and the spacing between each wind locks can be adjusted to meet the requirements of the panel. door where the door is installed. For example, in environments where a door panel will cope with high wind loads, a greater number of wind locks can be attached to each edge edge and / or the distance between each wind locks can be substantially reduced. On the contrary, where the door panel will face small wind loads, the number of wind locks can be reduced and / or the distance between each wind locks can be increased. Using less wind locks and / or increasing the distance between each wind locks are particularly advantageous in locations where the wind load is small but there is a lot of traffic through the opening or threshold to the which locks the door panel. Less safe against the wind and / or a greater distance between

<img file="MX347146B_D0012.tif" />

Each wind lock makes disengagement substantially easier if an object or vehicle passing through the opening hits the door panel or parts associated with it, since there are fewer thick portions that must be pulled through the door. lateral column separation. In addition to allowing for better decoupling ability than continuous wind locks, those skilled in the art should appreciate that segmentation of the wind locks also reduces the weight of the door panel, thereby reducing stress on the motor. and in other components used to open and close the door panel.

Regardless of the spacing or the number of wind locks attached to the door panel 12, the invention contemplates that the wind locks 28 must be spaced substantially apart so that the wind locks do not overlap when the door panel 12 is in a substantially open or rolled position, as shown in Figure 3. Configuring the wind locks in a way that substantially eliminates overlap, minimizes roll size when the door panel is in a substantially open position, which, in turn, minimizes the size and cost of the top and in turn maximizes the size of the opening. In modalities, where a large amount of wind locks are used to increase resistance to wind loading, those skilled in the art should appreciate that any resulting overlap is due

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reduce and minimize, for example, by separating the

<img file="MX347146B_D0013.tif" />

wind locks in a way where only portions of two wind locks overlap at any given point before three or portions of three wind locks overlap at any point.

Although the wind locks 28 can be attached and exposed along each marginal edge 24, in a preferred embodiment, the friction reduction strips 30 (Figure 4) can be applied over the wind locks 28, and in some modalities on wind locks 28 and marginal edge portions 24. The strips 30 can be of any flexible friction reduction material known in the art, such as polyethylene terephthalate ("PET") fabric strips or other polyester or polyester strips. nylon capable of joining the wind locks 28, and in some modalities, the marginal edges 24. The strips 30 can be attached in any way known in the art, including but not limited to, the use of the glues placed on one or both of the strips 30 and the wind locks 28 and the marginal edges 24, the use of of chemicals that can react with one or both of the strips or wind locks to create a bonding surface or surfaces, or through the use of heat.

The junction of the friction reduction strips 30 on the

ΙΜΡΙ6 ^ | industrial ^ * - = - wind locks 28, and in some modes, on the marginal edges 24, they serve two important functions: Firstly, the strips reduce the coefficient of friction between the wind locks and the lateral column 16 or 18 respectively, enhancing the ability of the wind locks and door panel 12 to disengage from the side columns if an object or vehicle hits the door panel or some associated structures. Friction reduction strips can engage or come in contact with the side columns and release more easily than uncovered wind locks or uncovered portions of the marginal edges to prevent damage to the door panel, other door panel components. the door and any objects or vehicles that hit the door.

In addition, the strips 30 reduce the wear on the wind locks 28 and on the marginal edges 24 that results from engagement with the side columns 16, 18. When a wind load is applied to the door panel 12, or a Object or vehicle hitting the door panel, the wind locks, and in some cases, the marginal edges, will engage the side columns and rub against them. Without the strips, the friction resulting from the engagement of the wind locks and the edge edges and side columns s can cause the wind locks or the edge edges of the door panel to wear out. and are less effective or ultimately fail. In the modalities

<img file="MX347146B_D0014.tif" />

Where strips are used, wear can be avoided or at least substantially reduced, leading to better operation, and a more durable door and door panel.

To more fully recognize the advantages associated with the use of the strips 30, in addition to applying the strips along the marginal edges on the face (shown in Figure 4 as the first face 22) of the door panel to which the join the wind locks 28, in some embodiments it may be advantageous to join or apply the strips along the opposite face (shown in FIG. 5 as the second face 32) along the marginal edges. Joining the strips along the marginal edges of the first and second faces regardless of which face joins the wind locks, further reduces friction between the marginal edges of the door panel and the side columns, maintaining or improving the disengagement ability of the door panel if an object or vehicle hits it while also prolonging the life and operability of the door panel by substantially reducing wear friction on both sides of the door panel.

Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the requirements of the environment and the location of the door panel may indicate the characteristics of any strip applied to the wind locks and / or edge edges. For example, in environments and locations where a door panel will cope with large loads from the wine but less object traffic

<img file="MX347146B_D0015.tif" />

or vehicles, it may be advantageous to use strips that have greater resistance to wear and that are capable of withstanding increasing or constant friction for a substantial period of time before wearing out. Alternatively, in environments or locations with lower wind loads but higher object or vehicle traffic, it may be advantageous to use strips that have a very low coefficient of friction to further enhance or maintain the decoupling ability. of the door panel. Ideally, however, a fabric having a high resistance to wear and a low coefficient of friction is preferred.

The shape and configuration of the wind locks 28 and their engagement with the side columns 16 and 18 can best be seen in Figures 6 and 7 which are a cross-sectional view along the line AA of Figure 1 and a perspective view of Figure 6 having a portion of the side column 16 removed, respectively. As seen in Figures 6 and 7, the wind locks 28 are attached to marginal edge 24, have a thickness T, a length L, a width W, and extend substantially perpendicularly from one face of the panel. gate 16, shown as the first face 22. In the preferred embodiment, each of the wind locks 28 includes an angled face 34 and a substantially straight portion, and the edge or side 36 that substantially align with the side edge 26 of the door panel 12. The locks against The wind can be made of any resistant material capable of deformation when facing great forces, such as those that create an impact on the door panel. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to rubber, foam, or polyvinyl chloride ("PVC").

Although the wind lock 28 is shown in Figures 6 and 7 as attached to the first face 22, those skilled in the art should appreciate that the side column 16 can be configured so that the wind lock 28 can instead join the second face 32.

In a preferred embodiment, the angled face 34 is configured to engage a portion of the side column 16 and to hold the door panel 12 on the side column when a wind load is applied to the door panel, while it can engage and release the side column if an object or vehicle hits the door panel or any of its components. In such embodiments, since the angled face is configured to be the portion of the wind locks that engage the side columns, in embodiments where the strips 30 are also used, it is imperative that the strips are preferably applied to at least angular face. However, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, it is advantageous at least to cover the entire portion of the wind insurance that you will have to engage or contact a portion of the

<img file="MX347146B_D0016.tif" />

side column to disengage if door panel is hit.

It is most advantageous to reduce wear and friction on the door panel itself in the embodiments where the strips are applied to the marginal edges 24 so that the strips extend horizontally through the marginal edges 24 at least an equal distance to at least the distance in which the border is contained within the lateral column. Placing the strips over the marginal edges reduces friction and wear on any part of the door panel that engages the side columns, if a wind load is applied, an object has struck the door panel, or through strings standard opening and closing.

To ensure resistance to wind load and decoupling ability, the relationship between the thickness T, the gap G in the side column, through which the edge of the door panel and the wind lock must be carefully set should be released if the door panel is hit, and the material or features of the wind lock. To ensure that the door and the door panel have an indispensable resistance to wind load, the invention contemplates that the thickness of the door panel and the thickness T are thicker than the width of the gap G in the side column to ensure that at least a portion of the wind lock engages the side column under the

<img file="MX347146B_D0017.tif" />

IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO DELA MOHEDA »INDUSTRIAL low, moderate, and / or intense wind loads.

To ensure disengagement when the door panel is struck, each wind lock must be flexible or collapsible enough to compress its thickness T so that the wind lock can be accommodated through the remaining area of ​​gap G under the extreme forces, ie each wind lock must compress the thickness T to at least equal the difference between the width of the gap G and the thickness of the door panel. To further maintain disengagement ability when wind locks are used, the invention contemplates that, in addition to, or alternatively, compression of the wind locks, the side columns 16, 18 may be flexible enough to bend when the wind locks apply a greater force on a portion of them, increasing the width of the gap G so that it allows a thicker wind shield to pass through and disengage.

Although it has been discussed herein that the wind load resistance and disengagement ability of the wind locks and door panel can be adjusted by altering the number of wind locks, the distance between each wind locks wind, or when applying the strips to the wind locks and / or to the door panel that have the particular characteristics, furthermore the invention contemplates that

IMPI

INSTTTUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL wind load resistance and disengagement ability of the wind locks and door panel can be altered and adjusted to meet location or environmental requirements by adjusting one or more of the length, of the thickness, and of the width of each windproof or of the gap G in each lateral column. As those skilled in the art should appreciate, in environments where resistance to high wind loading is needed, each wind lock can be made longer and / or thicker to create a larger body or surface to fit. to hold the door panel in place and to create a larger and thicker body that must be pulled through the side column gap before the door panel disengages.

The invention contemplates that the wind locks can be made of different sizes to particularly accommodate heavy wind loads at particular points, or to create the portions capable of more easily disengaging from the side columns if the door panel is struck. For example, it may be advantageous to use the smaller wind locks on a lower portion of the door panel to make it easier for the lower portion of the door panel to disengage if it is struck. This may be particularly advantageous where a bottom bar or other structure is capable of locking the door panel in place when the door panel is in a substantially position.

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Another alternative to adjusting the wind load resistance and disengagement characteristics of the wind locks is to alter or adjust the material from which the wind locks are constructed. For example, where greater resistance to wind load is required, wind locks can be made of a less pliable or flexible material to remain locked in place when facing strong wind loading. Alternatively, where a high level of disengagement is required, the wind locks can be configured of a more pliable or flexible material to allow more deformation and / or compression to be released through the side column clearance.

As yet another alternative for adjusting the wind load resistance and disengagement ability of the wind locks and door panel, it is further contemplated that the shape, and in particular the angle of the angled portion or face of the wind lock, can be adjusted or modified to increase or decrease the resistance to wind load. For example, as shown in Figure 8A, the angled face 34 may be angled to be more perpendicular to the surface of the door panel to increase resistance to wind load since a more perpendicular angle will make more difficult to disengage the wind locks from the side columns. If, however,

<img file="MX347146B_D0018.tif" />

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Mennm&gt; MuuCMN «numwrnw requires greater disengagement capability, the face or angled portion 34 of the wind lock can be flatter and more parallel to the door panel to more easily release through the side column gap and disengage , as shown in Figure 8B.

Another method of modifying the resistance to wind load and the decoupling ability of the wind locks and the door panel, which is contemplated by the invention, is to remove a portion of the wind lock body or hollow out a a portion of the inside of the wind lock. Creating a hollow portion allows for easier compression, making disengagement of the wind lock from the side columns much easier if an object or vehicle hits the door panel.

As yet another alternative for modifying the wind load resistance and decoupling characteristics of the door panel and the wind locks, and as an alternative to using the strips on the wind locks, the invention contemplates that the wind locks can have different durometric hardnesses. For example, as shown in Figure 9, a portion of the wind locks, which are configured to engage a portion of the lateral column, may have a higher durometer hardness, shown as portion or area 38 , to resist wear resulting from frictional forces created through the

<img file="MX347146B_D0019.tif" />

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INSTTTUTO MEXICANO pc la nons * AD INDUST1UAL coupling and to create a less flexible portion to withstand wind loads. Although portion 38 is made of a higher durometer material, portion 40 can be made of a lower durometer material to more easily compress and to allow disengagement of the wind lock and door panel if an object or a vehicle hits them. During impact, it should be appreciated that the higher durometer portions will deform and disengage from the lateral column, as will the remaining portion of the wind lock made of lower durometer.

To create wind locks having different durometric hardnesses, the invention contemplates that wind locks can be made from a single material having at least a portion or area that is coated or impregnated with a chemical or substance that react with the material to increase or decrease the durometer hardness of the material. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that in some embodiments it may be advantageous to impregnate the highest and lowest durometer portions of the wind lock to achieve the desired strengths.

An alternative method of creating a wind lock that has different durometer hardnesses is to coextrude each wind lock from two materials, one that has a higher durometer hardness and one that has a higher hardness ²⁵ IMPI ^

INSTITUTO MCJUCANO ot the lowest durometric industrial momoAD.

Regardless of how the dual durometer wind lock is created, to maintain disengagement ability, the invention contemplates that at least a portion of the higher durometer portion, which engages the lateral column, it can be flanged (figure 10) or it can be configured in another way to allow deformation or compression if an object or vehicle hits the door panel or any of its components to disengage from the side column and to prevent damage. In a preferred embodiment, when dual durometer wind locks are used, the angled face 34 of the wind lock has the ridges with the channels 44 positioned therebetween to allow the ridges to compress if an object hits the door panel. The invention contemplates that the wind load resistance and disengagement capabilities of the wind locks and door panel can be adjusted by adapting the thickness or number of flanges in such embodiments.

As those skilled in the art should appreciate, any of the methods of increasing and decreasing resistance to wind loading based on the number, size, composition, shape, or use of the strips described in the present, can be used in combination with each other on each wind lock, including features to increase and decrease resistance within a single lock

<img file="MX347146B_D0020.tif" />

IMPI • «TTTUTt) MÍXICANO M LA MOMUM» INBUmUAL against the wind.

Although some features may be complementary - such as that longer wind locks will necessarily lead to a shorter distance between the wind locks, or, that a flatter angle in the angled portion will lead to a wind lock. either wider or thinner (or both) - it is within the scope of the invention to do, for example, a shorter, thinner wind lock that is angled more perpendicularly to meet and meet environmental and location requirements.

It should also be appreciated that any of the characteristics of a particular wind lock within a single door panel may be different from at least one other wind lock on the same door panel. Although an example was discussed above regarding altering the length or thickness of a particular wind lock based on the environment and the location of the wind lock on the door panel, it is contemplated that any feature of any lock upwind can be adjusted to meet the environmental, location, and use requirements of a particular door panel.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention are proposed as exemplary only. Those skilled in the art can make alterations, modifications, and variations to particular embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined herein.

IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO MLAnoniDAD INDUSTRIAL

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The claims

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IMPI

MEXICAN IRSTHVTO OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY