Guide system for a sliding door

A guide system (1) for a sliding door (101) comprises a pair of guides (3, 4) opposite each other to receive the respective opposite edges (103, 104) of a door (101); lifting means (5) for switching the door (101) from a resting position to a sliding position; the lifting means (5) is configured to produce a magnetic field inside one of the guides (3, 4) so as to bring the door (101) from the resting position to the sliding position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is a guide system for a sliding door, that is to say, a set of mechanical elements predisposed to associate a sliding door with a support. In particular, the guide system according to the present invention is applicable in the building sector in casings for windows, French windows, doors, skylights and still more.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A known type of guide system for a sliding door comprises a lower guide and an upper guide, opposite each other, and between which a sliding door is inserted. The system comprises a lifting means applied to the door.

This lifting means is predisposed to making the door pass from a resting position, in which it is locked within the guides, to a sliding position in which it is slidable and it can thus be opened by a user. In greater detail, the door rests against the lower guide in the resting position, whereas it is raised in the sliding position.

Typically, the lifting means comprises a system of mechanical levers, which, when activated by a handle, push the carriages fixed to the door downwards. These carriages come into contact with an internal base of the lower guide, and under the effect of force exerted by the user through the levers, they push the door upwards into the sliding position. In this position, the carriages enable the door to move inside the guide.

Recent developments, including for example requirements for greater thermal isolation for the windows of buildings, have led to a considerable increase in the weight of the casings. Disadvantageously, a heavier door has made the limits of the known guide system evident, that is to say that the user needs to exert considerable force, especially upon release of the door (that is, when the door is being lifted), but also during the dragging of the door inside the guide.

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to offer a guide system for a sliding door that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art cited above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In particular, the aim of the present invention is to make available a guide system for a sliding door that is capable of facilitating the opening and the sliding of the door.

The technical problem cited is resolved by a magnetic lifting or guide system for sliding doors, comprising the technical characteristics of attached claim1. In particular, the lifting means is configured in such a manner as to produce a magnetic field inside one of the guides. This magnetic field exerts force on the door having an opposite direction with respect to the gravitational force.

With reference to the accompanying figures, the number “1” indicates a guide system for sliding doors according to the present invention. Although it can be associated with a door101, this guide system1does not comprise this door.

In detail, the guide system1comprises a pair of guides3,4that are opposite each other.

These guides3,4are configured so as to receive the respective opposite edges103,104of the door101. In further detail, as shown particularly inFIG. 1, the guide3is a lower guide, that is to say, located at a lower height with respect to the door101. Likewise, the guide4is an upper guide, that is to say, located at a higher height with respect to the door101. However, reference will be made below to the lower guide3and to the upper guide4, without loss of generality.

In further detail, each guide3,4has a respective seat3a,4ain which a respective edge103,104of the door101can be inserted. In particular, the lower edge103of the door101is inserted in the seat3aof the lower guide3. The upper edge104of the door101is inserted in the seat4aof the upper guide4.

Note that when the door101is installed inside the guides3,4, the door101is switchable from a resting position in which it is locked within the guides3,4, particularly within the seats3a,4b, to a sliding position in which it is slidable along the guides3,4, particularly within the seats3a,4a. In other words, in the resting position, the door101is in contact with the guide3.

The guide system1further comprises lifting means or lifting device5configured so as to switch the door101between the resting position and the sliding position. In particular, the lifting means5is configured so as to produce a magnetic field inside at least one of the guides3,4. Advantageously, in this manner it is possible to oppose the force of gravity without resorting to the muscular strength of the user.

More specifically, the magnetic field produced may be of an attractive or repulsive type, according to the embodiments of the guide system1. The term “attractive” refers to a magnetic field suitable for producing a force that tends to draw the edge103,104of the door101to the respective guide3,4. On the contrary, the term “repulsive” refers to a magnetic field suitable for producing a force that tends to repel the edge103,104of the door101from the respective guide3,4.

In detail, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention (shown inFIGS. 2 and 4-8according to several variations in construction), the magnetic field is of a repulsive type and it is localized at the lower guide3.

In a second embodiment of the invention, shown inFIG. 9, the magnetic field is of an attractive type and it is localized at the upper guide4.

In a third embodiment of the invention, shown inFIG. 3, the magnetic field is of the attractive type and it is localized at the lower guide3.

These embodiments and other additional variants shall be further specified below in this description.

Note that the lifting means5comprises at least one magnet6. This magnet6is fixed to one of the guides3,4and preferably located inside the respective seat3a,4a. In particular, in the embodiments shown inFIGS. 2-8, the magnet6is fixed to the lower guide3. In the embodiment appearing inFIG. 9, the magnet6is located at the upper guide4.

In the context of the present description, a “magnet” is intended as a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. In the case in which the magnet6and/or the further magnet7are permanent magnets, they are preferably made of neodymium.

In greater detail, the lifting means5comprises a plurality of magnets6arranged along the entire extension of the respective guide3,4in which they are placed. The dimensions, shape, intensity and distance between one magnet6and the other can be calibrated according to the weight and the dimensions of the door101.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lifting means5comprises a further magnet7that can be fixed to the door101and made to face the magnet6. In greater detail, the lifting means5may comprise a plurality of further magnets7arranged along the longitudinal extension of the door101.

Note that the magnet6and the further magnet7are configured so as to interact magnetically with each other and to produce a magnetic force of a repulsive type between the door101and the lower guide3. In other words, the magnets6and the additional magnets7have magnetic poles of the same polarity (North-North) or (South-South) facing each other.

In further detail, the magnet6and the further magnet7may be of any shape whatsoever. In the embodiments described and illustrated herein, the magnet6and the further magnet7are shaped in the form of a parallelepiped. In an unillustrated embodiment, it is possible to employ curved magnets6, that is to say magnets shaped like a curved roof tile or crescent-shaped. Advantageously, this makes it possible to modulate the magnetic field produced by the magnets6in such a manner as to limit transient effects due to activation and/or deactivation of the lifting means5.

In the embodiments inFIGS. 3 and 9, the lifting means5comprises a magnetically sensitive element8. This magnetically sensitive element can be fixed to the door101so as to be able to interact with the magnet6. In other words, the magnetically sensitive element8is an element of a passive type, that is, while it does not spontaneously produce a magnetic field, it is capable of reacting to a magnetic field that is applied by an external source. The magnetically sensitive element8is preferably made of a ferromagnetic material.

In detail, the magnetically sensitive element8can be made to face the magnet6in such a manner as to be capable of being magnetically attracted by the magnet6. In the embodiment inFIG. 9, the magnetically sensitive element8can be fixed to an upper edge104of the door101.

In the alternative embodiment inFIG. 3, the magnetically sensitive element8can be fixed to the lower edge103of the door101.

In both embodiments, the magnetically sensitive element8has an area of magnetic interaction located in a lower position with respect to the magnet6. In particular, in the embodiment inFIG. 9, the magnetically sensitive element8is a bar9, preferably of ferromagnetic material. The area of magnetic interaction is an upper surface9aof this bar9.

In the embodiment inFIG. 3, the bar9has an upside-down T-shaped section, that is to say it has a pair of lateral projections9b. In this case, the area of magnetic interaction is the upper surface9aof the lateral projections9b.

In the embodiments inFIGS. 4-8, the guide system1comprises a support element10for the magnet6and associated with one of said guides3,4, particularly with the lower guide3.

In particular, the magnet6is fixed to the support element10. In particular, the support element10is switchable between an activation position, wherein the magnet6and the further magnet7are positioned in such a position as to interact magnetically between each other, and a deactivation position. Although this solution is also applicable in the case in which the magnet6is an electromagnet, it proves to be particularly advantageous in the case in which it is a permanent magnet. In fact, it is possible to realize a guide system1according to the present invention without requiring an electric power supply, but based solely on activation of a mechanical type.

In detail,FIG. 4shows a first embodiment of the support element10. In this case, the support element10comprises a beam11predisposed to rotate about a longitudinal axis “A” thereof. The beam11is preferably connected to the lower guide3and in particular, it is sustained by a plurality of supports (unillustrated) distributed along the entire length thereof, as needed. Such supports enable the beam11to rotate about the longitudinal axis “A” thereof. The beam11comprises a first housing11a, wherein the magnet6is inserted. The beam11rotates preferably by 180°, in such a manner that in the activation position, the first housing11afaces the additional magnet7, whereas in the deactivation position, it is distanced away from the additional magnet7.

The beam11may also have a second housing11b, diametrically opposite the first housing11a, wherein an attenuation element12for attenuating the magnetic field can be inserted. Advantageously, this attenuation element12is capable of reducing any residual magnetic interactions that may be present between the magnet6and the further magnet7even when the magnet6is in the deactivation position. By way of example, the attenuation element12may be made of Mu-metal, that is, a type of nickel-iron alloy having high magnetic permeability. A further variant (unillustrated) of the embodiment shown inFIG. 4comprises arranging two magnets7solidly constrained to the door101. These two magnets7solidly constrained to the door101are abreast of each other and arranged in a position that is substantially symmetrical to the underlying magnet6associated with the lower guide3. The use of two magnets7solidly constrained to the door101makes it possible to increase the overall stability of the guide, in that they substantially produce a self-centring effect that keeps the door101in a centred, stable position with respect to the lower guide3.

The embodiment shown inFIG. 5differs from the embodiment appearing inFIG. 4in that it comprises a pair of support elements10, each of which is defined by a respective beam11. Each beam11is coupled with a respective magnet6. The beams11can rotate preferably by 90° towards the exterior of the lower guide3. Advantageously, in this manner, the magnetic field developed by the magnets6always remains symmetrical with respect to the lower guide3while the support elements10switch between the deactivation configuration and the activation configuration, and vice versa.

In an unillustrated variant of this embodiment, there is a single support element10, whereupon a magnet6is installed. A pair of additional magnets7are arranged parallel to each other and in particular, parallel to the lower guide3. Advantageously, this makes it possible to achieve greater stability of the door101and at the same time, considerable simplification in terms of construction.

The embodiments shown inFIGS. 6-9have the magnet6fixed to the upper surface10aof the support element10. The support element10translates away from and towards the door101, that is, between a distal position and a proximal position, with respect to the door101. In particular, the distal position corresponds to the deactivation configuration, whereas the proximal position corresponds to the activation configuration. In particular, these embodiments comprise driving means13associated with the support element10and capable of raising/lowering it.

In the embodiment inFIG. 6, the driving means13comprises an eccentric element14located in a lower position with respect to the support element10. This eccentric element14has a circular perimeter14a, which is in contact with a lower surface10bof the support element10. By rotating, the eccentric element14makes the support element10slide along the circular perimeter14athereof, varying the point of contact instant by instant. As a result, given that the points on the circular perimeter14aare at different distances from the centre of rotation, there is a distancing/nearing of the support element therefrom, and a resulting lifting/lowering of the magnet6.

In the embodiment inFIG. 7, the driving means13comprises a lever15located externally and transversely with respect to the support element10.

This lever is capable of rotating with respect to a centre of rotation “C” thereof, preferably located at one end. As a result, the lever15can raise and/or lower the support element10.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 8 and 8a, the driving means13comprises an arm16connected to the support element10. An actuating element17is located under the support element10, and in particular, parallel thereto. The actuating element17can slide inside the lower guide3, in such a manner as to set the arm16in rotation about a fulcrum “F” preferably located in a central zone of the arm16. The arm16thus acts upon the support element10in such a manner as to raise/lower it.

Note that in all the embodiments shown inFIGS. 4-9, the driving means13may comprise electric movement means (for example a motor) or, more advantageously, mechanical movement means that can be activated directly by the user.

Advantageously, the guide system1comprises sliding means18, preferably rollers19, which can be associated with the upper edge104of the door101. These rollers19are configured so as to slide inside the seat4aof the guide4, and they allow the door101to move even when it is pushed against the upper guide4by the magnet6.