US3900964A

US3900964A - Sliding closure assembly

Info

Publication number: US3900964A
Application number: US430231A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reuben J Krein
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-01-02
Filing date: 1974-01-02
Publication date: 1975-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-26

Abstract

A door mounted on broad S-curved rods with linear bearings for sliding lateral movement to opened and closed positions. Brackets secured to the door are pivotally connected to the linear bearings to allow the door to swing away from the door frame so the door clears the door frame as it is laterally moved. A link is pivoted to the door and a movable body to support one side of the door and allow limited swinging movement of the door. The rods and linear bearings are located in an elongated channel in an elongated support.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Krein Aug. 26, 1975 l l SLIDING CLOSURE ASSEMBLY [76] lnventorz Reuben J. Krein, 2319 N. Shore Dr., Clear Lake, Iowa 50428 [22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 [21] Appl. No; 430,231

52 US. (:1 49/214; 49/215 51 1111. C1.'-' EOSD 15/10 [58 Field 01 Search 49/213-215 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,055.96) 3/1913 Ellis 49/214 3,230,585 1/1966 Marsh 1 49/214 3 453 778 7/1969 Dau'girdas... .f-49/215 X Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey 5 7 ABSTRACT A door mounted on broad S-curved rods with linear bearings for sliding lateral movement to opened and closed positions. Brackets secured to the door are pivotally connected to the linear bearings to allow the door to swing away from the door frame'so the door clears the door frame as it is laterally moved. A link is pivoted to the door and a movable body to support one side of the door and allow limited swinging movement of the door. The rods and linear bearings are located in an elongated channel in an elongated support.

13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures J l ?v SLIDING CLOSURE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Laterally movable doors are conventionally supported with hangers from elongated horizontal tracks. The tracks extend into the wall adjacent the door opening so that the door can be moved laterally into a space within the wall. The requires separate wall construction and a wall having sufficient thickness to accommodate the door. In some door arrangements the tracks extend adjacent the outside of the wall whereby the door moves laterally close to one side of the wall. Examples of laterally movable door structures are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 1,126,241; 2,876,504 and 3,100,667.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention is directed to a swingable sliding closure assembly for closing an opening in a structure, as a wall, car body, cabinet or the like. The closure assembly has door means selectively movable to a first position to close the opening in the structure and movable from the first position to a second position to open the opening, providing access through the opening. The door means is movably supported with separate guide and support assemblies. First and second guide and support assemblies cooperate with each other to permit the door means to pivot outwardly from the opening in the structure and move along the guide and support assemblies. Each guide and support assembly has rod means extended across the opening. Guide means slidably mounted on the rod means are connected to the door means with pivot means. The pivot means have axes generally normal to the axis of the rod means so that the door means can swing toward and away from the rod means or into and out of the opening. A third guide and support assembly includes linkage structure which connects the door means with a laterally movable slide. The linkage structure permits the door means to have limited swinging movement about the axes of the pivot means.

An object of the invention is to provide a sliding door system which has a door that can be laterally moved to an open position using a minimum of space in front of the door opening. A further object of the invention is to provide a support and pivot structure for a laterally moving door which has a balanced distribution of load and can carry a relatively heavy door with a minimum of deflection on the support structure for the door. Another object of the invention is to provide a support and pivoting structure for a laterally moving door which includes an enclosed rod and guide movably mounted on the rod.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a structure having the swingable sliding door assembly of the invention showing the door in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing the door in the open position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing the door assembly in the full open position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. land 2, there is shown a structure indicated generally at 10, as an upright wall, cabinet, body of a vehicle, or the like. Structure 10 has an opening 1 1 which canbe closed with a swingable sliding closure or door indicated generally at 12. Door 12 comprises a generally rectangular flat panel of a size to fit into the opening 11. The panel can be laminated structure, a solid sheet member, or a hollow panel assembly. The size and shape of the opening 11 and door 12 can vary. Door 12 has a handle 41 used to facilitate opening and closing the door.

The swingable sliding door 12 is supported for lateral movement on first, second and third guide and support assemblies indicated generally at 13, 14 and 15. The first and second guide and

support assemblies

13 and 14 are identical in construction and are located adjacent the top and bottom edges of the opening 11. The guide and support assemblies 13, 14 and 15 support the door in a balanced manner so that it can be easily moved from a closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, to an open position, as shown in FIG. 2. An equal amount of the weight of door 12 is carried on each guide and support assembly.

The door assembly 12 is ass ciated with structure 10 having

upright side members

16 and 17.

Side members

16 and 17 extend upward adjacent opposite sides of opening 11 and are joined to a generally horizontal base ,or sill l8 and a generally horizontal top 19.

The first and second guide and

support assemblies

13 and 14 are identical in construction. The following description is limited to guide assembly 14 extended across the bottom of opening 11 adjacent the sill '18. The top assembly 13 extends across the top of the opening adjacent the top 19. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, guide and support assembly 14 comprises an elongated broadly S-curved rod or rail 21 having a first end extended through an opening in side member 16. A nut 22 threaded onto the end of rod 21 holds the rod in assembled relation with the side member 16. In a similar manner, the opposite end of rod 21 extends through a hole in side member 17. A nut 23 threaded on the end of rod 21 holds the rod in assembled relation with support 17. An inwardly extended bracket 24 is attached to the inside of the right side of door assembly 12 with a plurality of fasteners 26. Bracket 24 has a length which will hold the door 12 closed and permit the door to open as set forth hereinafter. Slidably mounted on rod 21' is a linear sleeve bearing 27 having a low friction cylindrical sleeve 28 in sliding engagement with rod 21. The bearing 27 has an car 29 located adjacent the end of bracket 24. A pivot pin 31 extends through aligned holes in bracket 24 and ear 29 to pivotally connect the bracket 24 to the bearing 27. The axis of pivot pin 31 member 17. it e r Uprightjside-member 17 has an step or recess 32 for accommodating a comer of the door assembly 12', as shown iri" FlGig flracket 24 has a length so that when the doorIZ'isintheclosed position, the door fits 'ihto the recess32f' As shown in Pros. 3, 4 ,17 and 8,"the third guide and support asser r'ibly comprises a pair of generally horizontal rods 34 and. 36 h avinginwardly 'turned 'nds at- 10:0ther connectingineans can be used t o attach'the" gu'iderods '34 and 36 to the ycture 10. Slidably moiintedon guide rods 34 an 36tis a body- 39.

jeeted upwafd'ly'frombody 39 is a first arm 42 attached to linearsleeve"bearihg".43.-- Bearing "413 is 'slidably mountedon r p er guide redswA seee f-d' i n' 44ertends "downwardly: from body'39; A linear sleeve bearmg 46 slidablymounte'd' on' rod 36'is attached to-the "lower end of the second arm-44IAs show ri in E1638,

3 a fastener connects the arm 44 to the body "39. The body 39 has an upright opening for accommodating the x arm 44. The fastener 45, shown as' a mitt andbol t-aissembly', extends throughsuitably aligned-holes iii the body 3 9 and'arm 44 to hold the arm:44 ini assembled grelation with thebody 39 .Arm 44 eanbefirovide'd with a plurality of holes 44A whereh iheerm '4-4 eehbe ad- 5 justably'rnounted on body 39."A-fastener ifr nilar t'o fas- J "tener' 45' isused toa'ttach'the first"arrn"42- to,, bod'y 39. 1 A- generally Zesha'pe'd link -47*piv otally connects the body 391mm door 212.- A hingeasse s secured-to door' l 2 with a plurality of faSteners 49 iiThe hinge plate alignment withthe end of arm 57. Member 68 has a i 1 pair of

outwardlyidireotedears

69 and 71. An end of The rod 61"a nd linear 'bearin'g"59 aree'oncealed in a generally H-shaped support 63. The bottom of support 63 has alinear opening or mouth 64 through .which the finger 58 projects. The mouth 64 opens to an elongated channel or chamber 66'which provides space for rod61 and the linear bearing 59. Structure 67, as a wall, is 10- cated between the upright flanges of the H-shaped support 63 and secured thereto 1 with suitable fastening meansjsuch' as adhesives, rivets, bolts and the like. The

support" can form the top of the door opening. In a similar manner, the bottom or sill of the door can con- I .4 I stain a similar H-shaped support for concealing the botnuts, clamp the guide r,od s. 34 andi6 to the structure I e s h guidef'rod.

4A m m er 68 is secured tothe inside of door '12 in 'armff57 is located between ears 69 and 71 A pivot pin 72, such as-a nut and bolt assembly, extends through 2 vertically'aligned holes in

ears

69 and 71 and arm 57, ii therebypivotally moimtirig the door 12 for movement fabof'ut' afgenerally upright axis. I

In 'use, with the door 12 in'the "closed position, as

'sho wniin FlGf 1, the doorl2 is initially swung open '25 about the upright pivotal axes of the pivot pins 31. The

handle 4ifof the door 12 is used to pull the door outward. Tl1fe outward pivoting of the door is limited by the pivotal length of link 47. Link 47 pivots about the ixes of its upright ends 50 and 51 tothe extent shown I ihbroke n lines 3. This permits the left edge of wardly directed projection or tingeriil"located in anupright hole 52irfbody 39.

' Side member 1 has an upright recess or groovei53 for accommodating the left edge of door "12. The side members l6 and'l7 and top 19 can have a continuous flush with theoutside' surface ofistruct'ure 1 Theside of door 12 adjacent hingeplate 48 has a cutout or notc hj 54for accommodating the bottom horizon tal portion'of link 47. As shown in FIG. 4;when

door 12 is in the open position; link 47 extends getterally transverse or normalto-the" plan'e'of the doorl The cation of the guide and support structure for the door 54. The 1114 47 positions thedoor' 12 outwardlyofthe guide rods 34'and-36 to permit the door'to movela ter- '-=ally with respect to structure 10.

Referring to nos. 9 and 10, there 1s shewh e modifi- 12; indicated generally at 56. Guide and supportist'ructure 56 slidably suppor ts the right side of the door 12..

and is 'used in' lieu of the first: and second guide arid siupr port members 1.3"and-14, A,

Guide and support structure 56 comprises an 57 having a generally upright finger-'58." A line' ar sleeve bottom portion of the link 47 extends through c ut' out ally, on. guide rods 4--and'36;

thefdooifto cleal jthe side member 16. Continued sidewaysf olr lateral movem eht of the door l2 moves the ,door 'to' heh n open pesiheh, as shownin FIG. 4. The 1 linear sleeve;bearings 2 7 ride on ,rods 2l and support the mightsideof-doo'r} 1 2. Rods have minimum deflection as the weight of part of door 12 is evenly supported thereon; when the: door 12 is in the open position, the brack 'et'arms 24 slpace thedoor away from the outside of thestructure In a similar manner, the link :spaces the left side of the door from ,'the structure 10,,Link 47 rides on the body 39. Body 39 moves later I The door is moved from the open position, as shown in .FIQ.;.,4,; to the closed-position shown in FIG, 3 by slidsinglthe/doorgto the right whereupon the linear sleeve ibearingsl2 7 will follow the curvature of guide rods 21. .The body 39 will riiove; linearly relative to the guide 3 4. and 3,6. When door12 is in closed position,

159 bracket armsj24 hold the door-"in groove 32. The link will permitthe left's ide-of the door to move into the green e53. Afs'uitable latch (not shown) can be used to ..ho.ld;door: 12, ih the closed p'osition.

The door 12 shown with the modified guide and sup- .t. port 56 pivots about-the upright axes of the pivot pins bearing "59 is secured to'the top of finger SSE-A Breed.

S-curved rod or rail 61 similar to rod" 2l"'s'lid ably ports the bearing 59. Bearing-59 hasa sleeve oflow 72 of the upper and lower guide and support as the door moves between its-open andclosed positions. The linear bearings 59 ride onthe generally S-shapd upper and lower rods 61. A third guide and support assembly (not-shown) siinilar'toassinblylS supports the opposite side of the doors While therehave-been shown and described pre ferred embodiments of th'ein'vention, it is understood.

that various changes. in the structure, location of structure, materials and curvature and length of the, rods can :bernade by those skilled the art without departing from the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an enclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A swingable sliding closure means for closing an opening in a structure comprising: door means movable to a first position to close the opening in the structure and selectively movable from the first position to a second position to permit access through the opening in the st i gj gtgre, means supporting said dpor means on Gasman bothsitles of said door means for movement of the door slidably mounted on said first rod, second guide means slidably mounted on said second rod, means including pivot means connecting the first and secondguide means to one side of the door means to support said-- one side of the door means, said pivot means having axes generally normal to the axes of the first and second rods whereby the door means can swing toward and away from the first and second rods and move in the direction of the first and second rods, means supporting said door means also including slide means located adjacent said door means allowing lateral movchaving space are elongated channel members, said channel members being of a size to accommodate the first and second rods and first and second guide means slidably mounted on the first and second rods.

8. A swingable sliding closure means for closing an opening in a structure having fixed members located on opposite sides of the opening comprising: door means movable to a first position to close the opening in the structure and selectively movable from the first position to a second position to permit access through the opening in the structure, rod means for supporting one side of the door means, said rod means including a first rod extended transversely adjacent the top of the opening, said first rod having opposite ends supported by the fixed members, and a second rod located generally parallel to the first rod and extended transversely adjacent the bottom of the opening, said second rod having opposite ends supported by the fixed members, guide means slidably mounted on said first and second rods, means including pivot means connecting the guide means to one side of the door means whereby said rods support said one side of the door means, said pivot means having an axis generally normal to the axis of the rods whereby the door means can swing toward and ment of the door means, rail means mountedon the 7 structure at a vertical location approximately midway between the first and second rods and extended generally parallel to the first and second rods, said rail means including a first horizontal rail anda second horizontal rail extended generally parallel to the first rail, said slide means including a body located between the first and second rails, arm means movably connecting the body to the first and second rails, and link means attached to the other side of the door means to connect the door means with the body to support the other side of the door means and allow the door means to swing away from the rod means whereby the door means can be moved along the first and second rods, said link means including a reverse curved member having an upright end pivotally mounted on the other side of the door means and a downwardly directed end pivotally mounted to the body.

2. The closure means of claim 1 wherein: said arm means connecting the body to the first and second rails include sleeve bearings on the rails and arms connecting the sleeve bearings with the body.

3. The closure means of claim 1 wherein: the means connecting the guide means to the door means includes brackets secured to the door means.

4. The closure means of claim 3 wherein: the pivot means includes separate pivots pivotally connecting the brackets to the guide means.

5. The closure means of claim 1 wherein: the guide means are linear bearings slidably mounted on the rod means.

6. The closure means of claim 1 including: means having space to accommodate the rod means.

7. The closure means of claim 6 wherein: the means away from the first and second rods and move in the direction of the first and second rods, slide means located the door means, rail means mounted on the structure and extended generally parallel to the first and second rods, said rail means including a first rail and a second rail extended generally parallel to the first rail, said slide means including a body located between the first and second rails, arm means movably connecting the body to the first and second rails, and link means attached to the other side of the door means to connect the door means with the body whereby the rail means support the other side of the door means and, said link means allowing the door means to swing away from the first rod and the second rod whereby the door means can be moved along the first and second rods from the closed position to the open position, said link means including a reverse curved member having an upright end pivotally mounted on the other side of the door means and a downwardly directed end pivotally mounted on the body.

9. The closure means of claim 8 wherein: said means connecting the body to the first and second rails includes sleeve bearings on the rails and arms connecting the sleeve bearings with the body.

10. The closure means of claim 8 including: bracket means secured to the door means, said bracket means being attached to the pivot means.

11. The closure means of claim 8 wherein: the guide means are linear bearings slidably mounted on the first rod and second rod.

12. The closure means of claim 8 including: means having space to accommodate the first rod andthe second rod.

13. The closure means of claim 12 wherein: the means having space are elongated channel members, said channel members being sized to accommodate the first and second rods and guide means slidably mounted on the first and second rods.

Claims

1. A swingable sliding closure means for closing an opening in a structure comprising: door means movable to a first position to close the opening in the structure and selectively movable from the first position to a second position to permit access through the opening in the structure, means supporting said door means on both sides of said door means for movement of the door means between said first position and said second position, said means supporting said door means including rod means extended across said opening, said rod means including a first broad S-curved rod extended transversely adjacent the top of the opening and mounted on the structure and a second broad S-curved rod located generally parallel to the first rod and extended transversely adjacent the bottom of the opening and mounted on the structure, means connecting opposite ends of each rod to the structure, first guide means slidably mounted on said first rod, second guide means slidably mounted on said second rod, means including pivot means connecting the first and second guide means to one side of the door means to support said one side of the door means, said pivot means having axes generally normal to the axes of the first and second rods whereby the door means can swing toward and away from the first and second rods and move in the direction of the first and second rods, means supporting said door means also including slide means located adjacent said door means allowing lateral movement of the door means, rail means mounted on the structure at a vertical location approximately midway between the first and second rods and extended generally parallel to the first and second rods, said rail means incluDing a first horizontal rail and a second horizontal rail extended generally parallel to the first rail, said slide means including a body located between the first and second rails, arm means movably connecting the body to the first and second rails, and link means attached to the other side of the door means to connect the door means with the body to support the other side of the door means and allow the door means to swing away from the rod means whereby the door means can be moved along the first and second rods, said link means including a reverse curved member having an upright end pivotally mounted on the other side of the door means and a downwardly directed end pivotally mounted to the body.

7. The closure means of claim 6 wherein: the means having space are elongated channel members, said channel members being of a size to accommodate the first and second rods and first and second guide means slidably mounted on the first and second rods.

8. A swingable sliding closure means for closing an opening in a structure having fixed members located on opposite sides of the opening comprising: door means movable to a first position to close the opening in the structure and selectively movable from the first position to a second position to permit access through the opening in the structure, rod means for supporting one side of the door means, said rod means including a first rod extended transversely adjacent the top of the opening, said first rod having opposite ends supported by the fixed members, and a second rod located generally parallel to the first rod and extended transversely adjacent the bottom of the opening, said second rod having opposite ends supported by the fixed members, guide means slidably mounted on said first and second rods, means including pivot means connecting the guide means to one side of the door means whereby said rods support said one side of the door means, said pivot means having an axis generally normal to the axis of the rods whereby the door means can swing toward and away from the first and second rods and move in the direction of the first and second rods, slide means located adjacent said door means allowing lateral movement of the door means, rail means mounted on the structure and extended generally parallel to the first and second rods, said rail means including a first rail and a second rail extended generally parallel to the first rail, said slide means including a body located between the first and second rails, arm means movably connecting the body to the first and second rails, and link means attached to the other side of the door means to connect the door means with the body whereby the rail means support the other side of the door means and, said link means allowing the door means to swing away from the first rod and the second rod whereby the door means can be moved along the first and second rods from the closed position to the open position, said link means including a reverse curved member having an upright end pivotally mounted on the other side of the door means and a downwardly directed end pivotally mounted on the body.

12. The closure means of claim 8 including: means having space to accommodate the first rod and the second rod.