The invention relates to an actuator with an anti-backbend chain, a drive motor, and a worm which can be driven by the drive motor. The anti-backbend chain has alternating inner and outer chain links, and chain pins which connect the links, wherein at least some of the chain pins have laterally protruding engagement regions which engage with the worm in order to drive the anti-backbend chain. Such an actuator is to have a more advantageous design. For this purpose, the worm is designed as a hollow worm, and the engagement regions of the chain pins engage with an inner helical surface of the hollow worm.

A latch assembly connected to the drive unit of a bi-fold door retains the bi-fold door in engagement with upright columns of a building with elongated straps attached to the upright columns and rotatable latch drums mounted on a drive shaft of a drive unit. Lift devices powered by the drive unit raise and lower the bi-fold door. Latch assemblies include springs that maintain tension on the straps during the opening and closing of the bi-fold door.

A latch assembly connected to the drive unit of a bi-fold door for retaining the bi-fold door secure to a building has elongated straps attached to rotatable latch drums mounted on the outer ends of the drive shaft of the drive unit. Lift drums powered by a motor driven gearbox raise and lower the bi-fold door. Latch assemblies having springs attached to the straps maintain tension on the straps during the opening and closing of the bi-fold door.

A latch assembly connected to the drive unit of a bi-fold door for retaining the bi-fold door secure to a building has elongated straps attached to rotatable latch drums mounted on the outer ends of the drive shaft of the drive unit. Lift drums powered by a motor driven gearbox raise and lower the bi-fold door. Latch assemblies having springs attached to the straps maintain tension on the straps during the opening and closing of the bi-fold door.

A latch assembly connected to the drive unit of a bi-fold door for retaining the bi-fold door secure to a building has elongated straps attached to rotatable latch drums mounted on the outer ends of the drive shaft of the drive unit. Lift drums powered by a motor driven gearbox raise and lower the bi-fold door. Latch assemblies having springs attached to the straps maintain tension on the straps during the opening and closing of the bi-fold door.

A garage door apparatus includes at least one panel integral to the garage door structure. This panel is rotatably operable with respect to the surrounding garage door structure, such that as the panel is rotated it presents an opening in the garage door structure. This rotably operable panel is also selectively retractable into the garage door structure such that a substantially unobstructed opening may be left in the garage door structure.

A drive carriage for a door, in particular garage door, comprising a body which is linearly shiftably mountable in a rail of a door drive, and a door driver pivotally mounted on the body, wherein a carriage driver which is shiftable relative to the body and is connectable with a power transmission means of the door drive, a latch mounted in the body via a flexible element and is pushable into a recess of the carriage driver by the flexible element, and a latching slide which urges the latch against the flexible element into an unlocking position in which the latch is not pushed into the recess by the flexible element, and which in a drive position permits pushing of the latch into the recess of the carriage driver by the flexible element in order to take a locking position in which the carriage driver is coupled with the body.

In example implementations, a horizontal door guide for a vertically stacking door is provided. The horizontal door guide includes a first track and a second track to vertically stack panels of a door along a horizontal line, a drive shaft coupled to a bottom most panel to lift the door vertically, a Geneva drive shaft coupled to the drive shaft, and a lifting cam coupled to the Geneva drive shaft, wherein the lifting cam comprises a rotating lever to separate and lift adjacent panels of the door as the door is opened in a vertical direction by the drive shaft and to push panels into the first track and the second track.

A mechanism for vertically sliding a windowed frame in one track alongside a static frame installed in a second track. The mechanism consists of two vertical racks installed on the sliding frame, which engage with two pinions coupled with a joint axle which are installed within the lower horizontal plank of the static frame. Turning the joint axle turns also the pinions which move the frame vertically. There are two options for turning the joint axle. The manual option involves turning a crank, the electrical option involves an electric motor coupled with a gearbox.

The electrical option also includes a control unit for controlling the direction and speed of the sliding, two limit switches for stopping the frame at highest and lowest positions, an electrical overload sensor which detects sudden sliding obstructions and a burglar alarm. The sliding frame also includes four rollers which reduce the sliding friction.

A mechanism for vertically sliding a windowed frame in one track alongside a static frame installed in a second track. The mechanism consists of two vertical racks installed on the sliding frame, which engage with two pinions coupled with a joint axle which are installed within the lower horizontal plank of the static frame. Turning the joint axle turns also the pinions which move the frame vertically. There are two options for turning the joint axle. The manual option involves turning a crank, the electrical option involves an electric motor coupled with a gearbox.

The electrical option also includes a control unit for controlling the direction and speed of the sliding, two limit switches for stopping the frame at highest and lowest positions, an electrical overload sensor which detects sudden sliding obstructions and a burglar alarm. The sliding frame also includes four rollers which reduce the sliding friction.