Abstract:
A sliding door panel and assembly is described, such that when in the door panel is in an open arrangement there is a functional cooperation or coupling between at least a first unit and a second unit of the assembly. The second unit is generally affixed to the sliding door and the first unit is fixedly mounted with a sliding door guide system or to a header/footer or frame. A third unit may be included with the assembly such that when the sliding door panel is positioned in the open arrangement, the third unit limits engagement between the first and second units. In addition, the third unit is positioned to limit linear movement of a slideable portion of the first unit thereby preventing damage.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to door systems, and more particularly, to hold open devices for retaining a door system in an open position. 
         [0003]    2. Introduction 
         [0004]    Conventional sliding door systems typically include one or more sliding doors mounted in a track directing movement of the sliding doors between an open and closed position. During operation, sliding doors are commonly retained in the open position by hold open assemblies, which are typically rigidly attached to the sliding door and door frame. However, in the event a door is abruptly opened, movement of the sliding door can potentially damage the hold open assembly. For example, in the event the door is abruptly moved to the open position, excessive force on the door can cause components in the hold open assembly to bend and/or break thereby potentially rendering the hold open assembly inoperable. It is therefore the principal purpose of this invention to avoid these and other disadvantages of existing door systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In the embodiments described herein, a hold open assembly is operable to hold a sliding door panel in an open arrangement by way of a functional cooperation or magnetic coupling between a pair of floating plates. A first floating plate/element is generally affixed to the sliding door and a second floating plate slideably secured to a base assembly disposed on a stationary structure, such as a door guide, header/footer or a door frame. In operation, when the sliding door is transitioned to a fully open position, magnetic contact between the floating plates enables the door to be held open until a user provides sufficient force to overcome the magnetic attraction, at which time the door will be released from the open position. Preferably, a door stop is utilized to limit the distance of travel of the sliding door panel to prevent and/or otherwise limit the likelihood of damage to the hold open assembly (i.e., breaking, cracking, bending, or dislodging of floating plates and/or the structure supporting the floating plates). In particular, hold open assembly is mounted at position allowing contact between the floating plates just prior to a leading edge of the door panel contacting the stop. If excessive force is used to move the door and the door continues to move after contact between the plates of the hold open assembly, the base assembly enables continued movement of the floating plates (and thus the door) until the door contacts and is stopped by the door stop. Thus, the sliding movement of the hold open assembly coupled with the use of a door stop prevents unintended damage to the hold open assembly during situations of excessive force or door movement. 
         [0006]    Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the above-mentioned advantages and superior features of the invention together with other important aspects thereof upon reading the detailed description which follows in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    For more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the inventions described herein, reference is now made to a description of the invention along with accompanying figures, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a representative door panel and hold open assembly with the door panels in a closed position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the door panel and hold open assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the door panel and hold open assembly of  FIG. 1  in the open position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the door panel and hold open assembly illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are representative schematics of a portion of the hold open assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a representative top view of separate portion of the hold open assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a representative side view of the portion of the hold open assembly illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a representative front view of the floating plates illustrated in  FIG. 6  or  7 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a top view of another representative door panel and hold open assembly, with door panels in the closed position; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the representative door panel and hold open assembly of  FIG. 9  with a door panel in the open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Although making and using various embodiments are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that as described herein are provided many inventive concepts that may be embodied in a wide variety of contexts. Embodiments discussed herein are merely representative and do not limit the scope of the invention. 
         [0019]    The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features may not be shown or may be exaggerated in scale or in somewhat generalized or schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. In the following description, like numbers refer to like elements. 
         [0020]    Described herein is a door hold open assembly  8  for retaining a sliding door panel  10  in an open position. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  and as discussed in further detail below, hold open assembly  8  comprises a floating element/plate  35  secured to sliding door panel  10  and cooperable with a corresponding magnetic floating element/plate  48  that is disposed on a stationary base assembly  40 , both operable to retain door panel  10  in the open position ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). According to embodiments disclosed herein, base member  40  comprises a laterally movable piston  44  that supports floating plate  48  to allow for, as discussed in greater detail below, a flexible and non-rigid engagement between floating plate  35  and floating plate  48  as floating plate  35  approaches plate  48  when door  10  is moved to the open position. Embodiments disclosed herein are designed to minimize and/or otherwise eliminate potential damage to hold open assembly  8  as door panel  10  is moved to the open position. 
         [0021]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , door panel  10  is movable within a guide system  20  and is operable between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) and an open position ( FIG. 3 ). Door panel  10  may be described as having a leading edge  12  for contacting a stop member  50  in order to limit door travel, a trailing edge  14 , a top  16  and a bottom  18 . In various embodiments, the door may further comprise horizontal and vertical stiles, which may form a frame, or a door panel described herein may have a separate frame. 
         [0022]    In  FIGS. 1-4 , door panel  10  is illustrated to be movable along a linear trajectory and is generally guided by panel guide system  20 ; however, it should be understood that non-linear movement of door panel  10 , such as in an arc or other path, may be utilized. Furthermore, movement of door panel  10  may be in the horizontal direction (as illustrated), the vertical/upward direction or in an angled direction and may be operated manually or with a mechanically or motor driven operator  70  ( FIG. 1 ). In addition, while panel guide system  20  is depicted in  FIG. 1  as positioned on the upper end of door panel  10 , guide system  20  may also be positioned above door panel  10 , on the lower end of door panel  10 , below door panel  10  or any suitable combination thereof. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5A , floating plate  35  is mounted to door panel  10  via a base member  32 , which is secured to door panel  10  via one or more fasteners  33  ( FIG. 5A ). A support body/plate  34  is mounted to and extends from base  32 , which may be fixedly secured to base  32  or integral therewith. Furthermore, body  34  may be configured to support additional features that are not illustrated, such as, for example, connecting elements and/or an end of a door cable that is operable with a mechanical or motor-driven operator  70  to move door panel  10  between the open and closed positions. 
         [0024]    Connected to body  34  is a subassembly that allows movement of plate  35  relative to support body/plate  34 , the movement being depicted by arrows  35 A ( FIG. 5A ). In one form, the subassembly comprises floating plate  35  pivotably disposed on a mounting element  37 . In particular, floating plate  35  fixedly but not rigidly secured to element  37  by way of a fastener  39 , which is tightened a sufficient amount to provide a gap G between floating plate  35  and the end of mounting element  37 . This enables a pivoting motion of floating plate  35  with respect to mounting element  37  and thus, plate  34 , to enable plate  35  to rest flush against plate  48  in the event door  10  is tilted or otherwise angled that would otherwise prevent flush alignment of plates  35  and  48 . Referring specifically to  FIG. 5A , in some embodiments, the position of mounting element  37  may be adjusted within a slot  38  to allow movement in the direction indicated by arrows  35 B. This facilitates alignment of floating plate  35  with corresponding floating plate  48  of base assembly  40  such that they are aligned in a common trajectory. Alternatively and referring specifically to  FIG. 5B , floating plate  35  may be connected to body  34  by a semi-spherical slip/ball joint  39  disposed on or otherwise within support body  34 . While not illustrated herein, mounting element  37  may be retractable, having, for example, a telescoping means, generally in a more extended position when the door panel is in the closed position, and/or mounting element  37  may be combined and cooperative with a means for absorbing mechanical force, such as a shock absorber. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , base assembly  40  is shown to generally comprise a mounting unit or bracket  42 , a piston  44 , a retainer ring  46  and floating element/plate  48 . Piston  44  is sized and shaped for positioning within an opening  43  of bracket  42 . The piston is elongated so that its length (see dashed line, L,  FIG. 7 ) is significantly greater than its width (W) or cross-sectional diameter. The width of piston  44  is generally constant along its entire length. In cross section, the piston may be of any shape, such as circular, oval, rectangular, square, polygonal, and variations, thereof. Openings  43  are generally sized and shaped to cooperate with piston  44  and its shape, allowing movement of piston  44  within opening  43 , said movement being of relative ease and with little resistance and taking place along the length of piston  44 , generally in the direction of arrow  45 . The movement may be further augmented with use of a lubricant or material that assists in ease of movement. Retainer ring  46 , located near a first end of piston  44 , prevents piston  44  from separating from bracket  42 . Floating plate  48  is located at a second and opposing end of the piston and is fixedly but not rigidly secured to piston  44  by way of a fastener  49 . For example, fastener  49  is tightened a sufficient amount to provide a gap G between floating plate  48  and the second end of piston  44  to enable a pivoting motion in the direction of arrows  48 A of the floating plate with respect to piston  44 . Other means for securing floating plate  48  to piston  44  are also suitable. For example, a means, such as depicted in  FIG. 5B  that includes a slip joint may be used in connection with floating plate  48  in order to allow movement of floating plate  48  relative to piston  44 . 
         [0026]    Base assembly  40  is generally fixedly mounted by any means for mounting, such as screwing, bolting, joining, adhering, pressing, soldering, and welding, as examples, by way of bracket  42 . In one of more embodiments, bracket  42  includes one or more slots  47  for placement of fasteners. Base unit  40  may be mounted to a structure, Z ( FIG. 7 ), such as a wall, track, header/footer or frame, when included, or other suitable feature incorporated with the sliding door assembly, such that, when mounted, a side view of the hold open unit is visible from a top viewing, such as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . As depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , the hold open assembly  8  and stop  50  are located at the upper end of sliding door panel  10 . This assembly, however, may fully function at alternative locations, such as a lower end of the sliding door panel  10  or on the side, if sliding occurs in a vertical or angled direction. By positioning floating plate  35  on door panel  10  in a common trajectory with the base assembly  40 , and more particularly, floating plate  48 , when door panel  10  is in the fully open position, floating plates  35  and  48  are magnetically attracted to each other. The selected materials should be such that the two plates are releasable when a user pulls the door panel in the opposing direction allowing the door panel to close freely. 
         [0027]    Furthermore, base assembly  40  may be of any suitable dimension such that the features described above are met. In one or more embodiments, as illustrated with  FIG. 7 , the piston length (L) may be about  2  inches, the bracket (B) may be about 1 inch wide and the distance (H) from the mounted structure (Z) to the midline of the piston (M) is about 0.63 inches. The floating plates may have a width or cross sectional diameter of about 1.4 inches or 1.75 inches or variations thereof, when circular. Other shapes (square, polygonal, etc.) may also be applied with the floating plates described herein. Generally, floating plate  40  is made of a magnetic material that has a pull, such as up to about 10 pounds, or about 13 pounds, or about 20 pounds or about 25 pounds, as examples. In one or more forms, a floating end is a disc magnet. In additional forms, a floating plate  48  is a ceramic pot or round magnet with a center hole (e.g., McMaster-Carr No. 5685 K26). Optionally, floating plate  48  is made of a material or composite material that exhibits a magnetic interaction in the presence of a field. For example, floating plate  48  may be an electromagnet (e.g., with a wire coiled around a metal core). A current drawn through the wire will develop a sufficient magnetic field to hold the door open and may be released to allow the door to close freely. 
         [0028]    Referring back to  FIGS. 1-3 , door stop  50  is utilized to limit door travel thereby preventing potential damage to door  10  and/or hold open assembly  8  (i.e., breaking, cracking, bending, or dislodging of floating plates  35  and/or  48  or bracket  42 ). In particular, stop  50  is positioned so that when door  50  is fully opened as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , floating plate  48  remains spaced apart from bracket  42 . Thus, in one form, the assembly is designed such that floating plate  48  will not seat against or contact base assembly  40  when door  10  is in the fully open position. Preferably, base assembly  40  is mounted at a position allowing contact between floating plates  35  and  48  just prior to or when leading edge  12  contacts stop  50 . Accordingly, if door  10  is further transitioned to the open position after contact between floating plates  35  and  38 , piston  44  moves in the direction of arrow  45 B thereby reducing the distance between the floating plate  48  and bracket  42  and increasing the distance between retainer ring  46  and bracket  42  until leading edge  12  contacts stop  50 . 
         [0029]    An alternative configuration is depicted in  FIGS. 9 and 10  in which floating plate  300  is positioned generally at an end of the leading edge of a door panel  100 . Operationally, this door panel and assembly functions similarly to that previously described. Thus, when door panel  100  is slideably moved from a closed position in  FIG. 9  to an open position in  FIG. 10 , floating plate  300  will contact hold open unit  500  and the leading edge of door panel  100  will simultaneously or shortly thereafter contact stop  400 . Said contacts will prevent further movement of door panel  100  in the direction of the arrow  450  in  FIG. 10  and damaging contact to hold open assembly  8 . 
         [0030]    The slideable movement of piston  44  and the pivotable mounting of floating plates  35  and  48  allow for a flexible, non-rigid and slideable engagement between floating plates  35  and  48 . This minimizes potential damage to hold open assembly  40  offers a mechanism with less rigidity and more yield as compared with prior assemblies. Moreover, as depicted herein, hold open assembly is not the only stop mechanism when the door moves from a closed to an open position. Stop  50  is appropriately positioned to contact leading edge  12  of the door and to minimize contact between the magnetic element and the bracket of the hold open unit, thus, preventing undue damage to the magnetic element as well as to the hold open unit and floating plate. 
         [0031]    Although representative processes and articles have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that various substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined by the appended claims.