Garage door opener

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a garage door opener which properly inter-relates mechanical function, user interface, ease of manufacturing and improved appearance.
The garage door opener is a totally integrated design where all parts are interdependent.
The unit is designed to accommodate a cable drive system which is a significant saving over bicycle chain driven garage door openers.
It is easier to handle during installation as there are no pin connections or sprockets.
The invention results in a smoother running, quieter garage door operator.
The cable moves in a vertical loop as opposed to horizontal orientation for chains and does not need to mesh with gears.
There is no side to side racking of the rail.
Thus, a less expensive rail such as a tube can be used in place of prior art T rails.
The rail may be in as many as five sections which fit together and does not require nuts and bolts to make the connections.
The trolley is connected to the cable by means of a steel catch that is crimped on the cable at the manufacturing plant.
When the consumer receives the packaged garage door operator, he need merely for installation to: 1.
Unravel the cable 2.
Assemble the rail 3.
Slip the trolley onto the rail 4.
Attach the header bracket 5.
Slip the cable over the pulley The use of plastic allows for an optimized design at the lowest possible cost.
The all-plastic housing replaces prior art chassis such as used in prior art garage door operators.
It is designed so that when the cover is removed all of the components are easily accessible and the entire operator can be easily serviced.
Inside of the housing there is an organization of the components into nesting areas that are molded into the plastic.
Thus, during assembly at the plant, the components may be dropped into place and secured with a pin or screw.
A printed circuit board is received into a circuit board slot.
Other subassemblies are eliminated and the quality control is improved.
Because internal organization is optimized, the operator is smaller and lighter than those of the prior art