Won-door Corporation

W Michael Coleman

Michael D George

E Carl Goodman

John G Garrett, Iii

Duane O Hall

Paul Saccomanno

D George Field

Mark B Laraway

Tracy M Knight

John G Garrett

Chain tensioner devices for use with movable partition systems include endplates configured to be mounted on opposing sides or ends of a movable partition. At least one of the endplates includes a bracket configured for attachment to an end of a chain. The bracket is movable relative to the endplate. The endplate having the bracket also includes an adjustment mechanism located on a common side of the endplate with the bracket, and is operably coupled with the bracket. The adjustment mechanism is configured for adjusting a distance separating the bracket from the endplate. Movable partition systems include such chain tensioner devices. Methods of adjusting a tension in a chain of a movable partition system involve the use of such a chain tensioner device. Methods of installing movable partition systems within structures include the installation of such chain tensioner devices.

Chain tensioners for movable partition systems, movable partition systems including such chain tensioners, and related methods

A movable partition system includes a movable partition including coupled panels and a lead post engaged with and movable along a track. A motor control system includes a motor coupled to the movable partition and a switching circuit coupled to the motor and for selectively coupling the motor to a positive power source and a negative power source responsive to one or more PWM signals. An encoder is configured for generating one or more rotation signals indicative of operational direction and operational speed of the motor. A motor controller is coupled to the switching circuit and is configured for improving airflow around the panels of the movable partition when the lead post of the movable partition is between a predefined position and a fully retracted position indicative of a billowing effect for the panels by adjusting pulse widths of the PWM signals to control rotational speed of the motor.

Methods for speed control of a movable partition

Closure assemblies for movable partitions may include a leading end assembly having a first side and a second side and a latching assembly coupled thereto. The latching assembly may include a first latching member having a portion thereof positioned proximate to the first side and a second latching member having a portion thereof positioned proximate to the second side. Movable partition systems may include a plurality of hingedly coupled panels movably coupled to a track, and a leading end assembly coupled to at least one panel of the plurality of hingedly coupled panels. The leading end assembly may include at least two latching features positioned on the leading end assembly. Methods of securing a movable partition may include retaining a first latching member and a second latching member in a retracted position and extending the first latching member and the second latching member to an extended position.

Closure assemblies for movable partitions, movable partition systems including closure assemblies and related methods

Automatic drive systems for movable partitions may comprise a floating jamb configured to attach to panels of a movable partition and glide within a pocket. A motor may be configured to extend the movable partition. The motor may be configured for mounting in the pocket on a back side of the floating jamb opposing a front side of the floating jamb to which the panels of the movable partition are configured to attach. An electronics enclosure may be sized and configured to contain electronics to connect to the motor. The electronics enclosure may be configured for positioning in the pocket on the backside in a location offset from a location where the motor is configured to be positioned. A depth of the electronics enclosure, as measured in a direction in which the floating jamb is mounted to glide, may be less than or equal to a depth of the motor.

Automatic drive systems, movable partition systems including such automatic drive systems, and related methods

Apparatuses and methods are provided for visual inspection across a barrier such as a fire door. In one embodiment of the present invention, a first movable partition is disposed adjacent, and laterally spaced from, a second movable partition. A first vision panel is disposed in the first partition and a second vision panel is disposed in the second partition in substantial alignment with the first vision panel. The position of the first vision panel is substantially constrained with respect to the position of the second vision panel along a first longitudinal direction. The first vision panel and the second vision panel are enabled to exhibit a desired amount of lateral displacement relative to each other.

Vision panel for movable partition, movable partition system and related method

Movable partition systems include a drive mechanism including a motor positioned at least partially on a side of a track opposite a movable partition. Automatically movable partition systems include a movable partition movable along a track and a motor configured to move the movable partition, the motor positioned on a side of the track opposite the movable partition. Methods of installing a movable partition system include coupling a movable partition to a track, positioning a drive mechanism at least partially on a side of the track opposite the movable partition, and coupling an elongated drive member to the movable partition. Methods of moving a movable partition along a track include actuating a drive mechanism positioned at least substantially in a header recess. Drive modules for a movable partition system and other methods of installing a movable partition system including attaching a motor to a section of track are also disclosed.

Drive modules for movable partition systems and components thereof and related methods of installing drive modules

Partition systems comprise a track and at least one partition configured to hang from and move along the track. A control box configured to contain at least a power supply for supplying power to a drive system, a floating jamb, and a trolley configured to attach to the floating jamb and rollingly engage with the track are also included. The trolley comprises at least one frame member comprising a jamb attachment portion configured to attach to the floating jamb, a distance from the jamb attachment portion to a rearmost surface of the at least one frame member opposite an end of the at least one frame member configured to face the at least one partition being less than or equal to a thickness of the control box in a direction at least substantially parallel to a direction of movement of the trolley. At least one support roller is attached to the at least one frame member and configured to engage with the track.

Partition systems including trolleys and related methods

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for speed control of a movable partition

Movable partition systems and components thereof, methods if installing movable partition systems, and methods of moving a movable partition

In one embodiment, a closure assembly for a fire door, including a first lead post having a longitudinal cavity located therein, an opening extending through a wall of the first lead post into the longitudinal cavity and a locking member may be positioned within the longitudinal cavity that is configured to obstruct the opening into the longitudinal cavity upon reaching a predetermined temperature, is disclosed. In additional embodiments, fire doors including such closure assemblies and methods of locking fire doors are disclosed.

Closure assemblies for fire doors, fire doors including such closure assemblies and methods of locking fire doors

Movable partition systems include an elongated drive member with fixed, offset ends extending along a track, a partition that is automatically and manually movable along the track, the partition hanging from a trolley disposed at least partially within the track, a motor carried by the movable partition configured to drive a rotatable drive member engaged with the elongated drive member, and a clutch coupled with the motor configured to engage or disengage the rotatable drive member from the motor. Methods of moving a partition along a track include actuating a motor carried by a movable partition to drive rotation of a drive member while a clutch mechanism is engaged, and manually moving the partition along the track while the clutch mechanism is disengaged. Methods of installing a movable partition system include coupling a trolley to a rotatable drive member and placing the trolley within a channel of a track.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for movable partitions

Movable partition systems may include a chain guide structure extending along a curved path. The chain guide structure may have a specified maximum width, and may include attachment flanges that project laterally from a central beam beyond laterally outward ends of chain guide members of the chain guide structure by a specified minimum distance. Overhead support systems for movable partition systems may include such chain guide structures. Methods of forming overhead support systems and movable partition systems may include stretch forming a bent chain guide structure. Methods of installing overhead support systems and movable partition systems may include inserting fasteners at least substantially perpendicularly through attachment flanges of a chain guide structure to secure the chain guide structure to an overhead structure.

Methods of forming and installing overhead support systems for movable partition systems

Motor control systems comprise a motor control circuit, a processing circuit operably coupled to the motor control circuit, and a current sensor operably coupled to the processing circuit. The current sensor may be configured to sense a current and to convey a signal to the processing circuitry proportional to an amount of current sensed. The processing circuitry may be configured to sample the signal to obtain a plurality of current values, to store the plurality of current values and to generate an operation profile from the plurality of current values. Folding partitions comprising motor control systems are also disclosed, as well as methods of monitoring an operation of an electric motor and of monitoring for an obstruction of a folding partition.

Motor control systems, foldable partitions employing motor control systems, methods of monitoring the operation of electric motors and foldable partitions

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

W Michael Coleman