Abstract:
A guide assembly for a folding panel assembly or system, the guide assembly including a first body section for locating the assembly in a guide channel and a second body section for carrying a bolt that passes through a hinge for attachment to a folding panel, wherein the second body section is pivotally mounted to the first body section so as to adopt either a left or right handed orientation relative to the first body section.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from Australian Patent Application No. 2010904069, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to guide assemblies for use with sliding door systems. The expression “sliding door systems” in this patent specification includes within its scope all types of folding panels including doors, windows and the like, concertinaed panels, bi-fold systems and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional concertinaed folding panels such as folding door or window systems typically include a top hanger below which the panel is suspended and a bottom guide coupled to the bottom of the door. To allow panels to slide between an open and closed position the top hanger and the bottom guide may include roller bearings which are located within a corresponding upper track and lower channel, respectively. To enable the panels to pivotally open inwardly or outwardly, the top hanger and the bottom guide may also include vertically oriented hanger and guide bolts, respectively. 
     On the lower end of the last panel that is the panel remote from the frame to which the system is attached, for example the fourth door panel, the guide is in the form of an end guide. The end guide is configured to retain the bottom of the panel in the lower channel. 
     Typically, the end guide comprises a guide body with two roller bearings connected to the body to allow the end guide to roll within the channel and has a guide bolt extending therefrom. 
     Folding panel assemblies, such as a folding door system generally operate from either right to left or left to right. In use, the end guide is generally located under the panel so that the panel can close flush upon a jamb frame or another meeting panel. This arrangement leads to the guide body for the end guide being either suitable for left handed or right handed use. 
     A disadvantage of these types of end guides is that the need for two types of guides makes the components confusing for customers when ordering. Further, the end guide can not be reconfigured for reverse use. 
     Guide bolts are generally used to connect hinges associated with the sliding panels to the end guides. Known end guides typically include a threaded bore provided in the casting into which a threaded bolt is coupled. During the life cycle of the product, guide bolts may unwind themselves due to vibration in the system. Such guide bolts typically have a “HEX” profile or drive on the bolt&#39;s head so the bolt can be wound in and out of the body. The head of the guide bolt is also visible on the external side of the closed door system. 
     A disadvantage of these types of couplings between the guide bolts and the end guide is that the end guide may become disconnected from the guide bolt and hence the folding panel system. Furthermore, the bolt can easily be removed and has a visible “HEX” drive on its head which can make the door vulnerable to break-in. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a guide assembly for a folding panel assembly or system, the guide assembly including a first body section for locating the assembly in a guide channel and a second body section for carrying a bolt that passes through a hinge for attachment to a folding panel, wherein the second body section is pivotally mounted to the first body section so as to adopt either a left or right handed orientation relative to the first body section. 
     In another aspect there is provided a guide assembly for a folding door system, the guide assembly including a first body section and a second body section, the second body section being operatively connected to the first body section such that in one mode it is displaceable relative to the first body section, the second body section including a bolt support portion which can be oriented in different positions relative the first body section as a result of the relative displacement. 
     In one form when the guide assembly is in the aforementioned one mode the second body section is rotatable relative the first body section to effect said relative displacement. 
     In one form the first and second body sections may have cooperating mountings which when in the aforementioned one mode permit the relative rotation about a rotation axis, the bolt support portion being spaced from the axis of rotation. In one form the cooperating mountings may comprise a socket and an insert. 
     The guide assembly may in one form further include a locking device movable between a lock position in which relative displacement between the first and second body sections is inhibited and a release position in which the relative displacement can be effected. 
     In one form the first body section comprises an elongated member, the mounting being in the form of a socket at one end thereof, the second body section comprising an arm with the mounting in the form of an insert at one end thereof and the bolt support being at the other end thereof. The bolt support may comprise a socket for receiving an end of a guide bolt therein. 
     In one form the locking device comprises a fastener mounted to the first body section and movable in direction laterally with respect to the rotation axis between the release and lock positions. In one form, when in the lock position the fastener extends into an aperture in the insert thereby inhibiting rotation of the insert. The fastener may include a threaded portion which cooperates with a threaded portion on the first body section so that rotation of the fastener causes movement thereof between the release and lock positions. 
     In one form the guide may further include rollers operatively mounted to the first body section. In one form the insert may include an axle projecting from an end thereof to which one of the rollers is operatively mounted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; 
         FIG. 1   a  illustrates a perspective exploded parts view of the guide assembly; 
         FIG. 1   b  illustrates another perspective exploded parts view of the guide assembly with the first and second body placed together; 
         FIG. 1   c  illustrates a perspective view of the guide assembly with a guide bolt removed; 
         FIG. 2   a  illustrates a perspective view of the guide assembly with a guide bolt and lug removed; 
         FIG. 2   b  illustrates a perspective view of the guide assembly with the end bolt and lug coupled thereto; 
         FIGS. 3   a  to  3   d  illustrate the process of actuating the guide assembly with the end bolt secured thereto between a left handed configuration and a right handed configuration; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the guide assembly in a channel which is installed to the still base or the headboard, depending on the application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1   a  to  1   c  there is illustrated a guide assembly  1  for use in a folding door system (not shown), the guide assembly  1  including a first body section  2  releasably secured to a second body section  3 . The second body section  3  includes a guide bolt support portion or collar  4  for receiving therein an end of a guide bolt  35  shown, for example, in  FIG. 2   a.    
     The first body section  2  is in the form of an elongate member  5  with a first end  6  and a second end  10 . The first end  6  includes an axle  8  onto which a bearing wheel or roller  9  can be mounted, the wheel  9  being rotatable to allow the assembly  1  friction reduced passage through a channel (not shown) when in use with a folding door system or similar. 
     The elongate member  5  includes a central bore  11  which extends from the first end  6  to the second end  10 . The central bore  11  includes a mouth portion  13  located at the first end which is able to receive the head of a fastener  7  and a narrower portion towards the second end  10  which receives the shank of the fastener  7 . The second end  10  includes a socket or cylindrical housing  12  which has a central axis which intersects with the central axis of the central bore  11 . 
     The second body section  3  is in the form of an arm  20  extending between an end  14  and an opposing end  26 . The end portion  14  of the second body  3  includes an insert  19  extending to one side of the arm  20  of the second body section  3 . The insert  19  has an outer surface configured to be rotatably seated in the socket or cylindrical housing  12 . A through hole  16  is provided in the insert through which the fastener is able to pass. 
     In this configuration, the fastener  7  is able to pass through the cylindrical housing  12  such that when the insert  19  of the second body section  3  is received within the socket or cylindrical housing  12 , the fastener passes through a hole  16  located on the end portion  14  and is secured to an end bore  18  by a threaded coupling of the fastener  7  and the end bore  18 . 
     Extending from the insert  19  is a concentrically arranged second axle  22  onto which a second bearing in the form of a wheel or roller  24  is able to be mounted. The bearing  24  serves to hold the first and second body sections  2 ,  3  together during free rotation therebetween, as a bolt axis is rotated about the first body section  2 . The second axle  22  is aligned with the axle  8  such that wheel bearings or rollers  9 ,  24  are aligned. 
     The opposing end  26  of the arm  20  includes the guide bolt support portion  4  which extends in an opposing direction to the insert  19 . More specifically, the support  4  is a generally cylindrical socket or collar with an upper circular entrance  28  and a lower portion  29  with an asymmetric internal profile in the form of a D shaped hole  30 . The support  4  includes a side bore  31 . 
     It will be appreciated that the fastener  7  is able to releasably secure the first body  2  relative the second body  3  such that when the fastener  7  is moved to a release position where the second body section  3  is able to be rotated and/or be repositioned relative the first body section  2 . When the fastener  7  is moved into a lock position it is located in the central bore  11  and passes through the hole  16  of the end portion  14 , the first body section  2  and the second body  3  become coupled together. Referring additionally to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , the guide assembly  1  is shown with the fastener  7  passing through the central bore  11 , the hole  16  and the end bore  18  to secure the first body  2  and the second body  3  together. 
     A top surface  33  of the elongate member  5  has a recessed section  34  (best appreciated in  FIG. 1   a ) towards the second end  10  into which a top surface  32  of the arm  20  is able to be received such that the top surfaces  32  and  33  are generally aligned. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the arm  20  and the elongate casting  5  present generally planar top surfaces  32  and  33 , respectively. 
     Moreover, the junction  39  the top surface  33  of the elongate casting  5  is curved to correspond with the top surface  32  of the arm  20 . Accordingly, is the released mode or condition, with the fastener disengaged, the first body  2  may be rotated relative the second body  3  without removing the round body portion  19  of the end portion  14  from the cylindrical housing  12  of the first body  2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , it may be appreciated that when in an engaged mode or condition the first body section  2  and the second body section  3  provide an arrangement in which a guide bolt  35  is able to be received and supported. The guide bolt  35  includes an elongate shank  36  extending from a head  41 . The lower portion of the elongate shank  36  includes a flat section  37 . The flat section  37  is configured to engage with the D-shaped bore  30  to restrict the guide bolt  35  from rotation when the guide bolt  35  is inserted into the bolt support, the flat section  37  being of a lesser diameter than the elongate shank  36  such that shoulders  38  are provided. When the guide bolt  35  is inserted into the bore  30 , the shoulders prevent the guide bolt  35  from passing entirely through the cylindrical housing  12 . 
     The guide bolt  35  includes a side bore  43  which, when the guide bolt  35  is inserted into the bolt receiving portion  4  is configured to correspond to the side bore  31 . A threaded lug  40  is then fastened through the side bores  31  and  43 , the lug  40  securing the guide bolt  35  to the bolt receiving portion  4 . 
     It may be appreciated that the guide bolt  35  is restricted from axial rotation by the coupling of the asymmetric profile of the D-shaped bore  30  and the corresponding flat section  37  and profile of the bolt  35 . Accordingly, unlike guide bolts which include a threaded coupling between the guide bolt  35  and the guide assembly  1 , in this arrangement the guide bolt  35  generally does not rotate and is less likely to work itself loose during operation such as, for example, when the guide assembly  1  and guide bolt  35  are used in conjunction with a folding door system. Furthermore, as the guide bolt  35  is not threaded, the head  41  does not include a recessed portion to receive and couple with a screw driver, key or the like. 
     Therefore, it may be appreciated the guide bolt  35  and guide assembly  1  provided herein has increased security compared to known systems where the head of a guide bolt or similar may have a recessed portion to receive and couple with a screw driver, key or the like. Furthermore, the vertical axial movement of the guide bolt  35  is restricted by the threaded lug  40  which passes though the side bores  31  and  43 . Due to the configuration of the D-shaped bore  30  and the flat section  37 , the lug  40  is able to be relatively small and positioned such that when the guide assembly  1  and the guide bolt  35  are used with a folding door system or similar the lug  40  can only be accessed when the folding doors are open which reduces the security threat. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   d , the guide assembly  1  is illustrated as being moved from a left hand orientation to a right hand orientation. To indicate the orientation of the first body  2  relative the second body  3  the top surface  32  of the arm  20  includes the letters “L” and “R” on opposing sides. The left hand orientation is indicated with an “L” located closest to the first end  6 , while the right hand orientation is indicated with an “R” located closest to the first end  6 . 
     Beginning at  FIG. 3   a  the guide assembly is shown in an engaged condition in a left hand orientation with the guide bolt  35  secured in place and the fastener  7  securing the first body  2  to the second body  3 . A key  42  is shown which may be engaged with the head of the fastener  7 , as indicated by arrow “A” and rotated in the direction of arrow “B” to loosen the fastener  7  as is shown in  FIG. 3   b . Once the fastener is loosened, the second body  3  may be freely rotated in the direction indicated by arrow “C”, whilst still being held to the first body section  2  by the bearing wheel  24 . Accordingly, the arm  20  is rotated through approximately 180, such that the letter “R” is moved closest to the first end  6  as is illustrate in  3   d . The fastener  7  is then inserted through the hole  16  of the end portion  14  and secured into the end bore  18  to secure the first body  3  to the second body  3 . 
     As may be appreciated from  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   d  the guide assembly provides an ambidextrous fitting with minimal parts and clear labels (the letter “L” and “R”) which allows the guide assembly to be simple to reconfigure between a left handed and a right handed orientation. Furthermore, advantageously the coupling of the guide bolt  35  and the second body  3  is such that the guide bolt  35  does not generally rotate and therefore does not tend to work loose during use. Moreover, the lug  40  associated with the guide bolt  35  is not easily visible and therefore does not provide an easy visible access means to remove the guide bolt  35  from the guide assembly hence providing a security advantage when used with a folding door system or similar. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 4 , the guide assembly  1  is shown in an in use environment, with the first body portion  2  and bearing wheels  9 ,  24  in a channel  44 . In the example shown, the channel  44  is formed of an aluminum extrusion  45  with a polypropylene channel  46  inserted, although other suitable channel structures can instead by used, as appropriate. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the guide assembly  1  can be used in both top hung and bottom folding applications—the channel  44  is either installed to the sill base or the headboard depending on the application. 
     Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. 
     Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. 
     LIST OF PARTS 
     
         
           1 . Guide assembly 
           2 . First body 
           3 . Second body 
           4 . Bolt support portion 
           5 . Elongate body 
           6 . First end 
           7 . Fastener 
           8 . Axle 
           9 . Bearing wheel or roller 
           10 . Second end 
           11 . Central bore 
           12 . Socket or cylindrical housing 
           13 . Mouth portion 
           14 . Insert 
           15 . Casting 
           16 . Hole 
           18 . End bore 
           19 . Body portion 
           20 . Arm 
           22 . Second axle 
           24 . Second bearing or wheel 
           26 . Opposing end portion 
           28 . Circular entrance 
           29 . Lower portion 
           30 . D-shaped hole 
           31 . Side bore 
           32 . Top surface 
           33 . Top surface 
           34 . Recessed section 
           35 . Guide bolt 
           36 . Elongate shank 
           37 . Flat section 
           38 . Shoulder 
           39 . Junction 
           40 . Lug 
           41 . Head 
           42 . Key 
           43 . Side bore 
           44 . Channel 
           45 . Extrusion 
           46 . Channel