Abstract:
A sliding door mounting assembly for slidably mounting a door panel to an overhead track. The sliding door mounting assembly includes a hanging bracket member and an anti-derailing pin. The hanging bracket member is securable to the door panel, slidably engageable with the track, and has a channel extending therethrough. The anti-derailing pin has an outer surface with at least one tooth protruding outwardly therefrom, is insertable in the channel and is configurable in an anti-derailing position where at least one of the teeth is engaged with the hanging bracket member and a leading end of the anti-derailing pin abuts the track, preventing the hanging bracket member having the door panel secured thereto from derailing from the track.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/987,944 filed on Nov. 14, 2007 by Applicant. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to sliding doors and, more particularly, to an anti-derailing device for doors suspended from and slidable along an overhead track. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Bathing enclosures often have an opening that is closed with a pair of sliding doors which are mounted in a “header” proximate to the top of the enclosure. Doors typically slide in separate, parallel tracks within the header and are able to slide past each other. A pair of rollers is mounted to each door that rides in a groove in an overhead track. They enable the door to glide in a horizontal direction along the header. 
         [0006]    For relatively easily mounting and dismounting the doors to and from the header, a relatively large gap is provided between the roller and the upper wall of the header. Absent other structures, the rollers may be inadvertently derailed due to this gap. For example, if the door is shut with too much force it may rebound upward instead of just straight back along the track. 
         [0007]    To substantially avoid the derailment problem, threaded fasteners are installed and abut a section of the header, such as the upper wall or the rail structure. However, upon the back and forth movement of the door, the fasteners unscrewed and, thereby, recreating the gap between the roller and the abutting wall of the header. A screwdriver is required to rotate them until they abut the abutting wall of the header. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is therefore an aim of the present invention to address at least one of the above mentioned issues. 
         [0009]    According to a general aspect, there is provided a sliding door mounting assembly for slidably mounting a door panel to an overhead track. The sliding door mounting assembly includes a hanging bracket member and an anti-derailing pin. The hanging bracket member is securable to the door panel, slidably engageable with the track, and has a channel extending therethrough. The anti-derailing pin has an outer surface with at least one tooth protruding outwardly therefrom, is insertable in the channel and is configurable in an anti-derailing position where at least one of the teeth is engaged with the hanging bracket member and a leading end of the anti-derailing pin abuts the track, preventing the hanging bracket member having the door panel secured thereto from derailing from the track. 
         [0010]    According to another general aspect, there is provided a sliding door system comprising a track; a door panel slidably mounted to the track; a clip member mounted to the door panel and having a channel extending therethrough and an anti-derailing pin having an outer surface with at least one tooth protruding outwardly therefrom, being insertable in the channel, and being configurable in a locked position wherein a tip of the anti-derailing pin abuts the track and at least one of the at least one tooth is engaged with the clip member preventing displacement of the anti-derailing pin along the channel and derailing of the door panel from the track. 
         [0011]    According to a further general aspect, there is provided an anti-derailing clip for a sliding door panel assembly engageable with a track, the anti-derailing clip comprising: a clip member mounted to the sliding door panel assembly and having a channel extending therethrough; and a pin having an outer surface with at least one tooth protruding outwardly therefrom and the pin being insertable in the channel with at least one of the at least one tooth engageable in a locked configuration with the clip member to prevent displacement of the pin in the channel, the pin abutting the track in the locked configuration and preventing disengagement of the sliding door panel assembly from the track. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a door system mounted to a tiled shower; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a sliding door mounting assembly mounted to an overhead track in accordance with an embodiment, wherein the overhead track and a door panel are partly sectioned; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the sliding door mounting assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the sliding door mounting assembly shown in  FIG. 2 , dismounted from the overhead track; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view, exploded, of the sliding door mounting assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an anti-derailing clip of the sliding door mounting assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  includes  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b , and  7   c  and is a cross-sectional view of the anti-derailing clip shown in  FIG. 6  in a disengaged configuration, an unlocked position, and a locked position of a pin respectively; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a schematic side elevation view, sectioned, of a user applying pressure on a head of the pin to configure the anti-derailing clip shown in  FIG. 6  in the locked configuration. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a tiled shower  10  located in a recess formed by walls  12 . 
         [0022]    The shower recess is closed by a door system  14  which includes a lower track  16  mounted on a front rim  18  and an overhead track  20  which extends directly over and parallel to the lower track  16 . Two wall jambs  22 ,  24 , spaced-apart from one another, extend vertically along the side walls between the tracks  16 ,  20 . The opening of the shower enclosure is defined by the tracks  16 ,  20  and the wall jambs  22 ,  24 . 
         [0023]    Two doors  26 ,  28 , which can be glass-panel doors, are suspended from the overhead track  20  in the enclosure opening and extend downwardly into the lower track  16 . In the embodiment shown, the doors  26 ,  28  can slide in either direction past one another along the two tracks  16 ,  20  to create a passageway adjacent either side walls through which a bather enters and exits the shower  10 . However, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the doors can be slidable in only one direction. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , there is shown that the overhead track  20  is formed by an elongated channel/header member  30  with an inverted U-shaped cross section and having two longitudinal rail support  32   a ,  32   b  extending within the opening of the header  30 . Each support  32   a ,  32   b  has a longitudinal rail  34   a ,  34   b  defined therein, both rails  34   a ,  34   b  extend parallel to one another. 
         [0025]    Each sliding door mounting assembly includes a roller  36 , which rides in a respective rail  34 . More particularly, the rollers  36   a  for the door  26  ride within rail  34   a , while the door rollers  36   b  for the door  28  ride within rail  34   b . The rollers  36   a ,  36   b  are mounted on a respective axle  38  attached to a roller fastener  41 , such as a screw, at it will be described in more details below. The rollers  36   a ,  36   b  are mounted to a outer side  39  of a respective door mounting bracket  40 . 
         [0026]    The door mounting brackets  40   a ,  40   b  define an inverted U-shape channel  42   a ,  42   b  in their lower section, the openings of which receive the top of a respective one of the door panels  26 ,  28 . The door panels  26 ,  28  are secured with door panel fasteners  44  to the mounting brackets  40   a ,  40   b . In this arrangement, the doors  26 ,  28  hang plumb substantially directly below their respective rollers  36   a ,  36   b.    
         [0027]    From  FIG. 3 , it is understood that in that embodiment, two roller and bracket assemblies (or sliding door mounting assemblies) are spaced apart along the top edge of each door panel  26 ,  28 , adjacent each opposite lateral end of the doors  26 ,  28 . In an alternative embodiment, it should be appreciated that any numbers of such assemblies can be mounted to each door  26 ,  28 . The roller and bracket assemblies are also spaced apart from the upper wall  46  of the header member  30 . 
         [0028]    Now referring simultaneously to  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 , there is shown that anti-derailer clips  50   a ,  50   b , or anti-jump clips, are mounted to the upper section  58  of the door mounting brackets  40   a ,  40   b . Each anti-derailer clip  50   a ,  50   b  includes a mounting plate  52  with a lower section  54  and an upper section  56 . The lower section  54  of the mounting plate  52  is secured to the upper section  58  of a respective one of the door mounting brackets  40   a ,  40   b . Both the lower section  54  of the anti-derailer clip  50  and the upper section  58  of the door mounting bracket  40  include a plurality of holes  60 ,  62 . The roller fastener  41  extends continuously in one of the anti-derailer clip hole  60  and one of the door mounting bracket hole  62 . Therefore, the roller fastener  41  connects together the anti-derailer clip  50 , the door mounting bracket  40 , and the roller  36  and acts as an axle for the roller  36 . The position of the door panel  26 ,  28  and the anti-derailer clip  50  relatively to one another can be adjusted by inserting the roller fastener  41  in different holes  60 ,  62 . 
         [0029]    The anti-derailer clip  50  is mounted on an inner side  63  of the mounting brackets  40   a ,  40   b  while the door rollers  36   a ,  36   b  are mounted on the outer side  39  of the mounting brackets  40   a ,  40   b , as mentioned above. 
         [0030]    The anti-derailer clip  50  also includes a pin mounting section  64 , continuous to the upper section  56 . The anti-derailer clip  50  includes a ratchet member  65 , or pawl, is pivotally mounted to the pin mounting section  64 , the purpose of which will be described in more details below. The pin mounting section  64  has a channel  66  extending therethrough. A ratchet edge  68 , i.e. the tip of the pawl  65 , extends at the periphery of an upper port  70  of the channel  66 . 
         [0031]    A pin  72  having a head  74 , a shank  76 , and a tip  77 , opposite from the head  74 , is slidably insertable in the channel  66 . The pin  72  has a plurality of engaging teeth  78  on at least one outer wall of the shank  76 . The teeth  78  are designed to be engaged by the ratchet edge  68  of the pawl  65  when the pin  72  is inserted in the channel  66 . Moreover, the pawl  65  can be pivoted, about its pivot axis, to move upwardly the pin  72  within the channel  66 , as it will be described in more details below. In the embodiment shown, the diameter of the head  74  is larger than the diameter of the lower port  80  of the channel  66 , preventing thereby the head  74  to be inserted in the channel  66 . 
         [0032]    The tip  77  is designed to abut the upper wall  46  of the header member  30 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , it will be seen that when the door  26 , for example, is being assembled onto the overhead track  20 , the anti-derailer clip  50  is simultaneously mounted to the mounting bracket  40 . However, the pin  72  is not inserted ( FIG. 7   a ), i.e. in a disengaged configuration, or not completely inserted in the channel  66  ( FIG. 7   b ), i.e. in an unlocked position, thereby leaving a sufficiently large gap between the bottom of the rail  34  and the upper wall  46  of the header member  30  to fit the roller  36  in the rail  34 . 
         [0034]    Once the roller  36  is engaged with the rail  34 , the gap is no longer helpful and, in fact, allows the door  26  to too easily derail. Thus, the pin  72  is inserted in the channel  66  or pushed further in the channel  66  until the tip  77  abuts the upper wall  46  of the header  30 . The pin  72  is thus configured in a locked position as shown in  FIG. 7   c.    
         [0035]    For displacing the pin  72  in the channel  66 , either pressure can be applied to the head  74  or the pawl  65  can be pivoted, about its pivot axis, to move upwardly the pin  72  within the channel  66  by simultaneously engaging consecutive teeth  78 . 
         [0036]    In the locked configuration, one of the teeth  78  of pin  72  engages the ratchet edge  68  preventing the pin  72  from sliding out of the channel  66  when pressure is applied on its tip  77 . 
         [0037]    Therefore, the anti-derailer clip  50  reduces the gap between the roller  36  and the upper wall  46  of the header  30  such that the door  26  cannot be removed from the track  20  without sliding out or removing the pin  72  from the channel  66 . If door  26  is lifted or tilted, the tip  77  of the anti-derailer clip  50  remains in contact with the upper wall  46  of the header  30  before the rollers  36  cannot to leave the rail groove  34 . Thus the pin  72  acts as a stopper preventing the door from derailing from the track  20 . 
         [0038]    As mentioned above, the door can be removed from the track  20  by disengaging the teeth  78  from the pawl  65 , lowering the pin  72  in a respective channel  66  of the anti-derailer clip  50  and reversing the steps of the assembly process. 
         [0039]    The engagement of the teeth  78  protruding from the shank  76  of the pin  72  with the ratchet edge  68  prevents the pin  72  from sliding out of the channel  66  when pressure, below a relatively high threshold, is applied to the tip  77 . If the pressure applied to the tip  77  is above the threshold, the pin  72  lowers or slides out from the channel  66 . However, the pin  72  can be relatively easily replaced in its original position, without requiring any extra tools, by simply applying a relatively low pressure on the head  74  until the tip  77  abuts the upper wall  46  of the header member  30 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , or pivoting the pawl  65  about its pivot axis. The head  74  is relatively accessible when the door panel assembly is mounted to the overhead track  20 . 
         [0040]    The teeth  78  are configured to permit a relatively easy displacement of the pin  72  in the channel  66  along one direction and restraint the displacement in the opposite direction. In the embodiment shown, the displacement of the pin  72  in the channel  66  is relatively easy when applying pressure to the head  74  or pivoting the pawl about its pivot axis. The teeth  78  provides a ratchet action to maintain the pin  72  in the locked position when pressure is applied to the tip  77 . 
         [0041]    The present invention provides sliding door structures for use in closing off bathing enclosures or the like. These structures are resistant to derailing, with the anti-derailing feature being connected and unconnected without extra tools 
         [0042]    The anti-derailer clip  20  can be made from a substantially rigid plastic, such as a semi-rigid resin, for instance. Other materials may be suitable as well, depending on the environment in which the system is used. 
         [0043]    In bypass door type systems (such as would be used desirable to control access to a shower enclosure), there can be two doors, each hanging from a separate rail by at least two rollers attached to at least two hanging brackets secured by two anti-derailing clips. The anti-jump clip provides a door assembly which is substantially resistant to derailing and relatively easy to readjust. Moreover, the anti-derailing feature can be activated and deactivated relatively quickly, without special tools. 
         [0044]    Although the door system is being described in the context of shower stalls, it also can be applied to tubshowers, i.e. a bathtub with shower region above the tub basin, shower stalls, and other bathing device and building enclosures. 
         [0045]    The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. 
         [0046]    For example, the door system  14  can include one or more door panels  26 ,  28  and their configuration can differ from the embodiment described above. The rail  34  can be replaced by any appropriate groove or system allowing a sliding displacement of the door panels  26 ,  28 . Moreover, the rollers  36  can be replaced by any other component allowing a sliding displacement of the door panels  26 ,  28 . The design of the header  30  can differ from the one of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0047]    In an alternative embodiment, the door mounting bracket  40  and the anti-derailing clip  50  can be single piece. 
         [0048]    In an alternative embodiment, the roller  36  can be mounted to the inner side of the door mounting bracket  40  and the anti-derailing clip  50  can be mounted to the outer side of the door mounting bracket  40 , for instance. Moreover, in another alternative embodiment, they can be mounted to the same side of the door mounting bracket  40 , either the inner side or the outer side. 
         [0049]    The design of the anti-derailing clip  50 , including the pin  72  and the channel  66 , can differ from the one of the above-described embodiment. 
         [0050]    The pin  72  can include a single engaging tooth  78  or any number of engaging teeth  78 . Moreover, they can be provided on a plurality of outer walls of the shank  76 . 
         [0051]    In an alternative embodiment, the tip  77  of the pin  72  can abut any other section or wall of the header member  30 . For instance, it can abut the rail support  32 . Therefore, the anti-derailing clip  50  can be mounted below the rail  34 . 
         [0052]    The anti-derailing clip  50  can be mounted to the mounting bracket  40  before or after mounting the door panel  26 ,  28  to the overhead track  20 . 
         [0053]    In an alternative embodiment, the mounting plate  52  and the pawl  65  can be single-piece. Moreover, the pawl  65  can be a fixed component. In another alternative embodiment, the pawl can be removed and the teeth can abut an edge or a protuberance of the anti-derailing clip. 
         [0054]    The header can include any number of rail. The anti-derailing clip can be mounted to the lower track. Only one roller assembly can include the anti-derailing clip and the anti-derailing clip can be mounted differently from the above-described structure. For instance and without being limitative, it can be mounted as a separate component from the hanging bracket. 
         [0055]    The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.