US2833346A - Sliding door assembly - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1958 D. F. PRESTON SLIDING DOOR ASSEMBLY Filed Jan, :so, 1956 /NVNTOR. 00/v l-T- PRESTON BY Hi6 HTTORNEYi, HARE/6) KlscH, Fear-1? &/'/HRR/$ United States Patent SLIDING DOOR ASSEMBLY Don F. Preston, Covina, Califl, assignor to Acme Appliance Manufacturing Company, Pasadena, -Califi, a corporation of California Application January 30, 1956, Serial No. 562,103

9 Claims. (Cl. 160-197) The present invention relates in general to sliding doors and, more particularly, to an assembly of two or more sliding doors for use between two rooms to separate them, or for use in a room to divide it into two parts.

Generally speaking, the invention contemplates a sliding door assembly which includes two or more parallel, overhead tracks each having a sliding door suspended erefrom by means of wheeled hangers, or the like, the individual doors being stacked in parallel relation against one wall ofthe room when the door assembly is open, or being stacked in parallel relation within a recess in the wall structure of the room when the door assembly is open. In a sliding door assembly of this nature, it is necessary to provide some means for guiding the lower ends of the individual doors and'to provide some means for interconnecting the individual doors in such a manner that, as the outer or lead door in the assembly is moved between its openrand closed positions, it picks up the succeeding doors in the assembly one-by-one and moves them between their open and closed positions also, a primary object of the inventionbeing to provide an improved combination door guiding and interconnecting means of this general nature which is extremely simple and effective. r

An important object of the invention is to provide a sliding door interconnecting and guiding means which includes two U-shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends or the vertical edges of and secured to each of the doors in the series and closing the ends of a longitudinal groove in the lower edge thereof, one of the stops on each of certain of the doors in the series including a guide which extends transversely under the adjacent door in the assembly and which terminates in a flange projecting upwardly into the longitudinal groove in the lower edge of such adjacent door so as to be engageable with the stops at the ends of the groove in the lower edge thereof. .With this construction, the flanges on the guides carried by certain of the doors in the series are engageable with the stops at the ends of the longitudinal groove in the lower edge of the adjacent'door in the series so that, as the first or lead door in the series is moved between its closed and open positions, it picks up the succeeding doors one-by-one and moves them between their closed and open positions. Also, the flanges on the guides serve to maintain predetermined spacings between the.

lower ends of adjacent doors so as to guide the lower ends thereof as the door assembly is moved between its open and closed positions, which is an important feature.

2,833,346 Patented May s, 1958 2 lastor anchor door in the series immovable in a sliding door installation wherein the doors are stacked in parallel relation adjacent a wall. With this construction, the preceding doors in the assembly move relative to the immovable anchor door, the latter being rendered immovable by securing it to the wall, floor, or the like. It will be understood that, with this construction, the door at either end of the assembly may be made the anchor door, depending upon the directions of opening and closing movement desired, the door at the other end being the first or lead door.

Another object is to provide, in a sliding door assembly wherein the individual doors are stacked in parallel relation within a recess in the wall structure when the sliding door assembly is open, a guide secured to the wall structure, or the floor, and extendingtransversely under the last or anchor door, this guide also having a sinuous flange extending upwardly into a longitudinal slot or groove in the lower edge of the anchor door and being engageable with the U-shaped stops embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of the anchor door. With this construction, the anchor door is movable in and out of the recess or pocket .in the Wall structure, its range of movement being limited by engagement of the stops at .the ends of the lower edge thereof with the fixed guide mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guide for one sliding door which is integral with one of the U-shaped stops on the succeeding door in the series.

The'foregoing object s, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will become apparent, may be attained with the exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail hereinafter. Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view of a sliding door assembly of the invention; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in elevation and partially in section, taken along the arrowed line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom View taken as indicated by the arrowed line 3- -3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a U-shaped stop of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a combination U-shaped stop and guide of the invention;

,Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a stationary guide of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, partially in elevation" able overhead supporting structure 16, such as a header.

or ceiling, in alignment with and extending into the recess 12 are parallel tracks 18, 20 and 22. The number of such tracks corresponds to the number of individual doors in the sliding door assembly 14, it being understood that while three tracks and doors are shown, any number of tracks and doors in excess of one may be'emp'loyed.

Suspended from the respective tracks 18, 20 and 22, as by means of wheeled hangers 24, are individual sliding doors 26, 28 and St). The first door, 26, in the assembly moves the farthest in traveling between its open and closed positions and thus leads the succeeding doors in the series, the door 26 accordingly being referred to herein as the lead door. The last door, 30, in the series moves the shortest distance between its openand closed to closing movement of these doors.

positions and anchors the preceding doors in the series against excessive opening and closing movement, the,

door 30 therefore being referred to herein as the anchor door. The doors 26, 28 and 30 are provided in their lower edges withcentral, longitudinal grooves or slots32, 34 and 36, respectively, each ,of which extends from .one vertical edge of the door in which it is formed to the other.

Considering now the sliding door interconnecting and guiding means of the invention, embracing the respective lower ends of the vertical edges of and bolted, or otherwise secured, to the lead door 26 so as to close the ends of the longitudinal groove 32 in the lower edge thereof, are U-sliaped stops 38 and 40. As best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the stop 38 is a simple U-shaped clip, the stop 40 being identical thereto. Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawing, resilient pads 42 are shown interposed betweenthe bases of the stops. 38 and 40 and the vertical edges of the door 26 to prevent metal-to-metal contact between these stops anda guide to be described, similar pads 42 being similarly placed with regard to other stops to be described. It will be understood, how.- ever, that these pads may be omitted. U-shaped stops 44 and 46 respectively embrace the lower ends of the trailing vertical edges of and are secured to the trailing vertical edges of the doors 28 and 30, the trailing edges of these doors beingthe edges thereof which trail in response The stops 44 and 46 close the trailing ends of the grooves 34 and 36 in the doors 28 and 30 and are shown as bolted to these doors,

the stops 44 and 46 being identical to the stop 38.

The lower end of the leading vertical edge of the intermediate door 28, considered from the point of view of the direction of closing movement of such door, is embraced by a U-shaped stop 48 which closes the leading end of the groove 34 in the door 28 and which is bolted or otherwise secured, to this door. The stop 48 has parallel side walls engaging opposite sides of the door 28 and an end wall engaging the leading vertical edge thereof. Similarly, the lower end of the leading vertical edge of the anchor door 38 is embraced by a stop 50 which is identical to the stop 48 and which closes the leading end of the slot 36 in the anchor door. The stop 48 includes a guide 52 whichis integral therewith and which extends transversely from one of the side walls thereof under the lead door 26, the guide 52 terminating in a flange 54 which projects upwardly, parallel to the side walls of the stop 48, into the groove 32 in the door 26 so as to be engageable with the stops 38 and 40 and so as to guide the door 26 relative to the door 28. The flange 54, as best shown in Fig. of the drawing, is sinuous to provide rounded crests 56 engageable with the sides of the groove 32 in the lower edge of the door 26 to permit relative sliding movementof theflange 54 and the sides of the groove 32in the door 26 without binding, which is an important feature. Similarly, integral with the stop 50 at the leading vertical edge of the anchor door 30 is a guide 58, identical to the guide 52, which extends transversely under the door 28 and which terminates in a flange 60 projecting upwardly into the groove 34 in the door 28, the flange 60 also being sinuous to provide rounded crests 62 engageable with the sides of. the groove 34. Anchored within the recess '12 just inside the entrance thereof, as by means of screws 64 engaging the wall structure is another guide 66 which is best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, the screws 64 extending through an arm68 of such guide. The guide 66 extends under the anchor door and terminates in a flange 70 which projects upwardly into' the groove 36 in the lower edge of the door 30, the flange 70 also being sinuous to provide rounded crests 72 for nonbinding engagement with the sides ofthe groove 36. It will thus be noted that the guide 66 is identical to the. guides 52 and 58 except that it is carried by the stationary arm 68, instead of by the stops 48 and 50.

Considering the operation of the invention, it will be assumed that the sliding door assembly 14 is in its closed position and that it is desired to open it to stack the doors 26, 28 and 38 within the recess 12 in parallel relation. In order to do this, the lead door 26 is moved along its track 18 toward the recess 12. Eventually, the stop 38 on the lead door 26 engages the flange 54 on the guide 52 to pick up the intermediate door 28 and start it toward the recess 12 along its track 20, this being the condition illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing. After continued movement of the lead door 26 toward the recess 12, the stop 48 on the intermediate door 28 eventually engages the flange 60 on the guide 58 to pick up the anchor door 30 and move it toward the recess 12 along its track 22 simultaneously with movement of the lead and intermediate doors 26 and 28 toward the recess 12 along their tracks 18 and 20. Continued movement then results in movement of the three doors 26, 28 and 30 into the recess 12.

When closing the door assembly 14, movement of the lead door 26 out of the recess 12 ultimately results in engagement of the stop 40 with the guide 52 to pick up the intermediate door 28. Eventually, the stop 44 on the intermediate door 28 engages the guide 58 on the anchor door 30 to pick up the anchor door and move it out of the recess 12, closing movement of the entire door assembly 14 being limited by engagement of the stop 46 on the anchor door 30 with the fixed stationary guide 66.

Considering the alternative embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawing, in the absence of the pocket or recess 12, the doors 26, 28 and 30 are merely stacked in parallel relation adjacent the Wall structure 10 when the door assembly 14 is open, the anchor door 30 being rendered immovable, and the stationary guide 66 being omitted in view of the immovability of the anchor door. As shown in Fig. 7, the anchor door 30 may be rendered immovable by means of a latching device 74 comprising a housing 76 fastened to the anchor door and comprising a vertically movable bolt 78 engageable with a socket 80 in a floor 82. It will be understood that the anchor door 30 may be rendered immovable in other ways.

While the guides 52 and 58 have been shown and described as mounted on the leading vertical edges of the doors 28 and 30 with respect to the direction of closing movement of these doors, it will be understood that the same results may be attained by mounting them on the trailing edges of the doors 26 and 28, respectively, and arranging them to project into the grooves 34 and 36 in the doors 28 and 30, respectively, particularly in the arrangement of Fig. 7 of the drawing wherein the anchor door 30 is rendered immovable.

Although I have disclosed exemplary embodiments of my invention herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiments without departing from the spirit o'f the invention as defined by the claims hereinafter appearing.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sliding door assembly, the combination of: first and second parallel, overhead tracks; first and second sliding doors respectively suspended from said first and second overhead tracks and respectively having longitudinal grooves in their lower edges; two U-shaped stops l respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said first sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof; two U- shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said second sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof, one of said stops on said second sliding door including a guide extending transversely under said first sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said first sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said first sliding door; another guide extending transversely under said second sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said second sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said second sliding door; and mounting means for said other guide.

2. In a sliding door assembly, the combination of: first and second parallel, overhead tracks; first and second sliding doors respectively suspended from said first and second overhead tracks and respectively having longitudinal grooves in their lower edges; two U-shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said first sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof; two U-shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said second sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof, one of said stops on said second sliding door including a guide extending transversely under said first sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said first sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said first sliding door; another guide extending transversely under said second sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said second sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said second sliding door; and mounting means for said other guide, including a third sliding door suspended from a third overhead track parallel to said first and second overhead tracks.

3. In a sliding door assembly, the combination of: first, second and third parallel, overhead tracks; first, second and third sliding doors respectively suspended from said first, second and third overhead tracks and respectively having longitudinal grooves in their lower edges; two U- shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said first sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof; two U-shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said second sliding door and closing the endsjof said groove in the lower edge thereof, one of said stops on said second sliding door including a guide extending transversely under said first sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said first sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said first sliding door; two U-shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said third sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof, one of said stops on said third sliding door including a guide extending transversely under said second sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said second sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said second sliding door; another guide extending transversely under said third sliding doorand terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said third sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said third sliding door; and mounting means for said other uide. g 4. In a sliding-door interconnecting means for a sliding door assembly which includes first and second parallel, overhead tracks and first and second sliding doors respectively suspended from said first and second overhead tracks and respectively provided with longitudinal grooves in their lower edges, the combination of: two U-shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said first sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof; two U-shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said second sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof, one of said stops on said second sliding door including a guide extending transversely under said first sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said first sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops onsaid first sliding door; another guide extending transversely under said second sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said second sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said second sliding door; and mounting means for said other guide.

, 5. In a sliding-door interconnecting means for a sliding door assembly which includes first, second and third parallel, overhead tracks and which includes first, second and third sliding doors respectively suspended from said first, second and third overhead tracks and respectively having longitudinal grooves in their lower edges, the combination of: two U-shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said first sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof; two U-sh-aped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said second sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof, one of said stops on said second sliding door including a guide extending transversely under said first sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said first sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said first sliding door; two U-shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said third sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof, one of said stops on said third sliding door including a guide extending transversely under said second sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said second sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said second sliding door; another guide extending transversely under said third sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said third sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said third sliding door; and mounting means for said other guide.

6. In a sliding-door interconnecting means for a sliding door assembly including first, second and third parallel, voverhead tracks and including first, second and third sliding doors which are suspended from said first, second and third overhead tracks respectively, which are provided with longitudinal grooves in the lower edges thereof, respectively, and which are movable along said tracks into a recess in a wall structure at one end thereof, the combination of: two U-shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said first sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof; two U-shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said second sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof, one of said stops on said second sliding door including a guide extending transversely under said first sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said first sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said first sliding door; two U-shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to said third sliding door and closing the ends of said groove in the lower edge thereof, one of said stops on said third sliding door including a guide extending transversely under said second sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said second sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said second sliding door; another guide extending transversely under said third sliding door and terminating in a flange which projects up-- wardly into said longitudinal groove in the lower edge of said third sliding door so as to be engageable with said stops on said third slidingdoor; andmeans mounting said other guide on said wall structure within and adjacent theentrance of said recess.

7. A sliding-door interconnecting means as defined in claim 4 wherein said flanges .of said guides are sinuous to provide them with rounded crests engageable with the sides of the g-rooves'in thelower edges of saiddoors.

8. In a sliding-door interengaging means for a sliding door assembly which includes two parallel, overhead tracks and which includes two sliding doors respectively suspended from :said overhead tracks and respectively having longitudinal grooves in the lower edges thereof, the combination of: two -U shaped stops respectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to one of the doors and closing the ends of the groove in the lower edge thereof; and two U-shaped stops re spectively embracing the lower ends of the vertical edges of and secured to the other door and closing the ends of the groove in the lower edge thereof, one of the stops on the other door including a guide extending transversely under the one door and terminating in a flange which projects upwardly into the longitudinal groove in the lower edge of the one door so as to be engageable with the stops thereon.

9. In a sliding-door interconnecting and guiding means for a sliding door assembly which includes parallel overhead tracks and which includes sliding doors respectively suspended from said overhead tracks and respectively having longitudinal grooves in the lower edges thereof, the combination of: stops at and closing the respective ends of the longitudinal groove in the lower edge of each door and carried by such door; guides respectively carried by certain of the doors and extending transversely under adjacent doors, respectively, and projecting upwardly into the longitudinal grooves in the lower edges thereof, re spectively; and a stationary guide extending under another of the doors and projecting upwardly into the longitudinal groove in the lower edge thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,852,608 Grable Apr. 5, 1932 2,523,998 Sanchez Sept. 26, 1950

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