Segmented garage door and hinges

Abstract

A segmented door (10, 107) such as a garage door includes a plurality of adjacent door panels (12, 14, 104, 106) pivotally interconnected for movement between a pivoted position and an alignment position. The edge walls (30, 34, 190, 192) on opposed sides of the juncture (26, 110) between adjacent panels (12, 14, 104, 106) present mated, arcuate surfaces. The preferred door (10, 107) includes a hinge bracket (38, 112) mounted to one panel (12, 104) and a hinge brace (40, 116) mounted to an adjacent panel (14, 106) configured to present hinge pin holes (66, 74, 126, 142) in registration with a hinge pin (42, 128) received therein, adjacent the first panel (12, 104) and spaced from the juncture (26, 110) between the panels (12, 14, 104, 106). The bracket (38, 112) and brace (40, 116) are configured for gradually closing the gap between the edge walls (30, 34, 190, 192) and so that the edge walls (30, 34, 192, 190) slide by one another to prevent pinching in the juncture (26, 110) during movement from the pivoted to the aligned position. In one embodiment, the hinge pin (128) is held inside the panel (104) and behind the panel interior wall (132). Further, an end hinge (102) is used at the ends (158) of the panels (104, 106). The end hinge (102) has a hinge base (150) and a hinge foot (156) with pivot pins (160, 164) extending from the hinge foot (156) into pivotal engagement with the ends (158) of the panels (104, 106). Preferably, the pivot pins (160, 164) are pivotally received by end brackets (168, 170) mounted on the ends (158) of the panels (104, 106).