Patent ID: 6526695
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: E05D,E05F,E05Y,E06B

Abstract:
A sliding door assembly for installation across an opening formed through a wall of a building, said assembly comprising:a frame assembly constructed and arranged to be mounted with respect to the opening formed through the wall when said door assembly is installed; a sliding panel including at least a top rail and a tubular trailing edge stile; a sliding panel carrier comprising a pivot pin receiving opening, said sliding panel being mounted to said sliding panel carrier; said sliding panel having a mounting bracket mounted directly to the top rail thereof, said bracket comprising a pivot pin positioned in vertical alignment with the tubular trailing edge stile, said bracket including an aperture for enabling a user to move said between an extended position wherein said pin extends upwardly from pivot pin said sliding panel and a retracted position wherein said pin is moved downwardly from said extended position at least partially into said tubular trailing edge stile and out of said pivot pin receiving opening, said sliding panel carrier being mounted to said frame assembly for generally rectilinear movement relative to said frame assembly to enabe movement of said sliding panel between (1) a closed position with respect to a portion of the opening of the wall to prevent persons and objects from travelling through said portion of the opening of the wall when said door assembly is installed, and (2) an open position with respect to said portion of the opening of the wall to permit persons and objects to travel through the portion of the opening of the wall when said door assembly is installed; said sliding panel being mounted to said sliding panel carrier by inserting said pivot pin into said pivot pin receiving opening such that said sliding panel can swing relative to said frame assembly through a breakout movement under an application of manual force from (1) a normal, non-breakout position wherein when said door assembly is installed said sliding panel can be moved generally rectilinearly between said open and closed positions thereof, to (2) a breakout position wherein said sliding panel is swung away from said non-breakout position to uncover the portion of the opening of the wall that the sliding panel covers when said door assembly is installed and said sliding panel is in the closed position to thereby enable persons and objects to travel therethrough; said bracket, said pivot pin, and said pivot pin receiving opening being constructed and arranged such that, when the door assembly is installed and said sliding panel is moved to the breakout position thereof, a load applied to said sliding panel which tends to pivot said sliding panel about a point located distally from said pivot pin creates a reaction force that is transmitted directly to the top rail of said sliding panel and applied to said pivot pin as a result of said mounting bracket being mounted directly to said top rail and said pivot pin being received in said pivot pin receiving opening; and a power-operated door controlling unit constructed and arranged to be operatively connected to said sliding panel carrier, said door controlling unit being constructed and arranged to move said carrier and said sliding panel relative to said frame assembly in a generally rectilinear manner between the open and closed positions thereof when said door assembly is installed.