Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus for separably connecting a movable barrier to a means for guiding the barrier is disclosed. The connection separates upon a transbarrier impact in excess of a predetermined magnitude. To this end a lateral connecting member (22) extends between the barrier (12) and the guide means (18) and includes opposed first and second ends (22a and 22b). The first end (22a) being attached to the guide 18 and the second end 22b has opposed upper and lower surfaces 46, 48 arcuate portions 46a, 46b, 48a and 48b. A receptacle 24 is attached to the movable barrier 12 and is adapted to receive the second end 22b of the lateral connecting member 22. The receptacle 24 has facing upper and lower inner surfaces 42, 44. The lateral connecting member 22 and the receptacle 24 are cooperatively dimensioned so that, over a predetermined range of rotation of the receptacle 24, a greatest distance between any point on the upper outer surface 46 and any point on the lower outer surface 48 of the second end of the lateral connecting member 22b is no greater than a smallest distance between any point on the upper inner surface 44 and any point on the lower inner surface 42 of the receptacle 24.

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First Claim