Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to an adjustment mechanism for aligning a hanging structure, such as a door panel, window, art work, ladder, curtain, or decorative element.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/358,393 that was filed on Jun. 24, 2010, entitled, “Adjustment Mechanism,” the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to alignment mechanisms for hanging structures. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Hanging objects have become a common part of contemporary architecture and design. Many consumers are interested in hanging door panels, windows, curtains, art work, ladders, and the like, within a room. Aligning these hanging structures can be challenging and minor adjustments are often needed. In some arrangements, these hanging structures need to be aligned with respect to the wall or another structure within the room. In other arrangements, one hanging object needs to be aligned with respect to another hanging object (and perhaps the wall or another structure within the room). These hanging structures are often secured to a wall or another structure at or near the ceiling of a room, which leaves little space within which to adjust the hanging structures so they can be aligned. Many of the known hardware is bulky and difficult to adjust within such a small space, and often times even requires the mounting holes in the hanging object to be re-drilled several times until alignment is perfected. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present invention overcomes these and other problems with known hanging structure adjustment mechanisms. It offers an elegant, sleek adjustment mechanism that is easily accessed and adjusted without compromising durability and strength. 
         [0005]    In some disclosed embodiments, an adjustable hanging structure includes a hanging structure; a first adjustment mechanism operably secured to the hanging structure at a first attachment position and a second adjustment mechanism operably secured to the hanging structure at a second attachment position. The first adjustment mechanism may be adjustable in one or more directions with a first screw and the second adjustment mechanism may be adjustable in one or more directions with a second screw. When the first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism are adjusted, the hanging structure is moved in one or more directions. The first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism may be operably secured to a respective first roller assembly and a second roller assembly that roll a hanging structure along a base surface. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a hanging structure is aligned by loosely operably securing a first roller assembly having a first adjustment mechanism to a hanging structure at a first position with a first mounting structure. A second roller assembly having a second adjustment mechanism is loosely operably secured to the hanging structure at a second position that is spaced apart from the first position with a second mounting structure. At least one of the first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism are adjusted such that the hanging structure is aligned with respect to an axis. Then the first roller assembly is tightly operably secured to the hanging structure by tightening the first mounting structure and the second roller assembly is tightly operably secured to the hanging structure by tightening the second mounting structure. In this method, a majority of the weight of the hanging structure is distributed by at least one of the first mounting structure and the second mounting structure when the first mounting structure and the second mounting structure are tightly operably secured to the hanging structure thereby preventing the adjustment structure from bearing substantial weight of the hanging structure during normal day-to-day operation. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of two exemplary adjustable roller assemblies with adjustment mechanisms in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The roller assemblies are shown operably secured to a hanging structure to show possible orientation of the roller structures relative to the hanging structure, according to aspects of the disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates an enlarged, isometric view of a roller assembly with an adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A &amp; 3B  illustrate exploded front and rear views, respectively, of the roller assembly with adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, assembled, cross-sectional view of the adjustment mechanism portion of the roller assembly of  FIG. 2 , taken along plane  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0012]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are enlarged fragmentary views of the adjustment mechanism portion of the roller assembly of  FIG. 2 , showing a possible a first position and a second position of the infinitely adjustable adjustment mechanism, respectively. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a rear, exploded view of a roller assembly having an alternative possible adjustment mechanism embodiment in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIGS. 1-5B  illustrate a first preferred embodiment of an exemplar adjustment mechanism  100  for a hanging structure  102  that is preferably operably secured to a roller assembly  104  that rolls the hanging structure  102  along a base surface  108 .  FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative preferred adjustment mechanism  100 ′ for the roller assembly  104  with like elements between the embodiments being like numbered so as to reduce repetition. An exemplary roller assembly  104  is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/815,254, filed on Jun. 14, 2010 and entitled, “Roller Assembly,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0015]    As best shown in  FIGS. 3B ,  5 A &amp;  5 B, the adjustment mechanism  100  preferably includes an elongate frame  106  having an upper end  105  and an opposite lower end  107  and defining an elongate channel or recess  110  preferably toward the lower end  107 . The recess  110  is aligned along the longitudinal length  109  of the frame  106 . An elongate plate  112  shaped to fit within and slide along the recess  110  is operably received within the recess  110  and covered with faceplate  124  thereby allowing the plate  112  to slide within the recess  110  up and down the longitudinal length  109  of the frame as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . The plate  112  is secured to the hanging structure  102 , preferably with mounting screws  120  ( FIGS. 3A ,  3 B &amp;  4 ) or the like that extend through openings  122  ( FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  4 ) in the hanging structure  102  and into the plate  112 . The adjustment mechanism  100  operably positions the plate  112  within the recess  110  thereby allowing the position of the hanging structure  102  to be infinitely adjustable relative to the frame  106 . 
         [0016]    Preferred structures for operably securing the plate  122  to the hanging structure  102  are best shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  4 . For example, the adjustable plate  112  preferably includes a mounting structure  116  that has two screw receptacles. Any suitable number of screw receptacles  118  may be included in alternative examples. Mounting screws  120  are inserted into corresponding screw receptacles  118  for mounting the hanging structure  102  to the frame  106  and operably engaging the adjustment mechanism  100 . The hanging structure  102  includes two holes  122  through which the screw receptacles  118  (or any portion of the mounting structure  116 ) are inserted. The screw receptacles  118  are inserted through corresponding holes  124  in a first face plate  126  positioned on a first surface  128  of the hanging structure  102 . Mounting screws  120  are inserted through holes  132  of a second face plate  134  positioned on a second, opposing surface  136  of the hanging structure  102 . The screw receptacles  118  are inserted through a pair of bushings  138  that space apart the first face plate  126  from the second face plate  134  to accommodate approximately the width of the hanging structure  102 . In alternative embodiments, second face plate  134  includes separate washers. For example, a first washer and a second washer are replaced with the second face plate  134  that is illustrated in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  4 . In this example, screws  120  would be inserted through the first washer and the second washer, respectively. 
         [0017]    The faceplate  126  is secured over the recess  110  containing the elongate plate  112  with low profile screws  210  or the like as shown in  FIGS. 3B and 5A  such that surface  202  on the elongate plate  112  slides along surface  200  ( FIGS. 3A &amp; 4 ) on the faceplate  126  when the mounting screws  120  are not tightly secured to the screw receptacles  118  in the elongate plate  112 . It can be appreciated that tightening the screws  120  into the screw receptacles  118  with urge surface  202  toward surface  200  thereby providing a friction mount between these surfaces and preventing the plate  112  from sliding within the recess  110 . 
         [0018]    If desired, additional friction materials and/or roughening of one or both of the surfaces  202 ,  200  and between the faceplates  126 ,  134  and the hanging structure  102  can be added to further facilitate this friction mount when the mounting screws  120  are fully secured to the screw receptacles  118 . In addition, protective elements that are positioned between the first face plate  126  and the hanging structure  102  and/or the second face plate  134  and the hanging structure  102 . For example, the hanging structure  102  is a glass panel. The elements of the adjustment mechanisms  100  include some type of rigid material(s), such as one or more metals, in this example. The protective element is positioned between the rigid elements of the adjustment mechanisms  100  and the glass panel to protect the glass panel from wear and/or damage by contacting the metal elements of the adjustment mechanism  100 . The protective elements are any suitable structure and may include any suitable material(s) such as rubber. The protective elements are any suitable shape and size. In the examples illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5B , the protective elements include the rubber bushings  138 . Additional protective elements that are not illustrated in the Figures include a layer of protective material, such as foam, rubber, plastic or the like that is positioned between the hanging structure  102  and any one or more portions of the adjustment mechanism  100 . 
         [0019]    A preferred exemplary adjustment mechanism  110  is best shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  4 ,  5 A and  5 B. The frame  106  of this adjustment mechanism  100  includes a tunnel  140  into which an adjustment screw  142 , is positioned such that the adjustment screw  142  comes into contact with a first end  141  of the adjustable plate  112 . When the adjustment screw  142  is adjusted, the adjustable plate  112  is moved from a first position to a second position, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , respectively. In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the recess  110  includes a clearance space  144  and the adjustable plate  112  is moved in the direction of the clearance space  144 . Any suitable number of clearance spaces may be included in other examples and the clearance spaces may be positioned in any suitable location within the recess. 
         [0020]    The adjustable plate  112  is moved along a vertical axis in the example illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5B . In other examples, the adjustable plate  112  is moved in any suitable direction, including in an arc, based on the shape of the adjustable plate  112  and the manner in which the adjustable plate  112  contacts the adjustment screw  142 . 
         [0021]    The tunnel  140  is positioned in any suitable location on the adjustment mechanism  100 . In the examples illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5B , the adjustment mechanism  100  has an upper end  144  and an opposing, the lower end  146 . The tunnel  140  is positioned on a lower end  146  of the adjustment mechanism  100 , farthest away from the base surface along which the hanging structure  102  rolls. This positioning of the tunnel  140  permits the adjustment screw  142  positioned within the tunnel  140  to be adjusted from the bottom of the adjustment mechanism  100 , which is not obstructed by the roller assembly  104 , the base surface  108  or the ceiling or other structure to which the base surface  108  is mounted. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment of the adjustment mechanism  100  illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the adjustable plate  112  includes a first portion  146  and a second portion  148  that are discrete structures from each other. In the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5B , the adjustable plate  112  includes a first portion and a second portion that are integrally formed with each other. Referring again to  FIG. 6 , the two bushings  138  include an interconnecting member  150 . The interconnecting member  150  causes the bushings  138  to function as a single unit, which provides stability to the discrete portions of the adjustable plate  112  in this embodiment. The interconnecting member  150  is any suitable shape, size, and thickness. In another embodiment, the two bushings  138  are two discrete elements, as illustrated in the example shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . The holes  132  of the face plate  134  are oblong to accommodate any adjustments in the spacing between the two screw receptacles  118  that are needed when the adjustable plate  112  is inserted through the holes  122  in the hanging structure  102 . This adjustability feature accommodates a variance in the spacing between the hole or holes  122  in the hanging structure  102 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the hole  122  in the hanging structure  102  in a single hole. However, in alternative examples, the hanging structure  102  includes more than one hole  122 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
         [0023]    The remaining elements of the adjustment mechanism function in the same manner in this embodiment as in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5B . The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  permits the two screw receptacles  118  of the mounting structure  116  to be adjusted to accommodate a variance in the distance between the holes  122  in the hanging structure  102 . In an alternative embodiment, any suitable number of discrete portions of the adjustable plate  112  may be included. 
         [0024]    An adjustment tool  156 , such as the Allen wrench illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , adjusts the positioning of the adjustment screw  142  within the tunnel  140  to move the adjustment screw  142  in the desired direction. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the Allen wrench  156  causes the adjustment screw  142  to move vertically within the tunnel  140 , which causes the adjustable plate  112  to move in any suitable direction, including vertically, horizontally, and at any angle (or arc) with respect to the hanging structure  102 . 
         [0025]    In another aspect, a hanging structure is aligned by loosely operably securing a first roller assembly having a first adjustment mechanism to a hanging structure at a first position with a first mounting structure, then loosely operably securing a second roller assembly having a second adjustment mechanism to a hanging structure at a second position with a second mounting structure. The mounting structures, roller assemblies, and hanging structures are described above. Then at least one of the first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism are adjusted such that the hanging structure is aligned with respect to an axis (e.g., a vertical axis, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5B , but may be any other desirable axis). The first adjustment mechanism and the second adjustment mechanism may be adjustable by adjusting any adjustment screw  142  in the examples described above. 
         [0026]    Once the hanging structure is aligned in the desired manner, the first roller assembly is tightly operably secured to the first roller assembly by tightening the first mounting structure and the second roller assembly is tightly operably secured to the second roller assembly by tightening the second mounting structure. The steps of tightening the first mounting structure and the second mounting structure include securing the mounting screw  120  within the screw receptacles  118 , as described in the examples above. Once the first mounting structure and the second mounting structure are tightly operably secured to the hanging structure, the majority of the weight of the hanging structure is distributed by at least one of the first mounting structure and the second mounting structure. In this example, little, if any, weight of the hanging structure  102  is sustained by the adjustment screw  142 . 
         [0027]    For example, one or more of the adjustment mechanisms  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5B  is loosely operably secured to the hanging structure  102 . The adjustment screw  142  is adjusted so that the adjustable plate  112  moves and aligns the hanging structure  102  in the desired position. Then the adjustment mechanism  100  is tightly operably secured to the hanging structure  102  by tightly securing the mounting screws  120  within the screw receptacles  118 . As best shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  4 , this causes the friction mount between surfaces  200  on faceplate  126  and surface  202  on elongate plate  112  and it also urges the second face plate  134  toward face plate  126  thereby compressing these plates against the hanging structure  102 . As a result, the load of the hanging structure  102  is evenly distributed to the frame  100  without placing undue pressure on the holes  122  in the hanging structure  102 . Moreover, this compression mount relieves the temporary load borne by the adjustment screw  142  during the adjustment process thereby allowing considerably less bulky materials, such the use of a more aesthetically pleasing, but smaller, less load bearing, adjustment screw  142  to be used for some components of the adjustment mechanism  110   
         [0028]    Having here described preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is anticipated that other modifications may be made thereto within the scope of the invention by individuals skilled in the art. For example, optional features may be added to any aspects of the adjustment mechanisms described above. Also, the shape and contour of any one or more elements of the adjustment mechanism may vary in any suitable manner. Similarly, individual elements or features of a particular aspect of the adjustment mechanism are generally not limited to that particular aspect, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected aspect, even if not specifically shown or described. The same also may be varied in many ways. 
         [0029]    Also, one or more adjustment mechanisms  100  may be operably secured to corresponding roller assemblies  104 . For example,  FIG. 1  illustrates two adjustment mechanisms  100  that are operably secured to two respective roller assemblies  104 . The roller assemblies  104  roll the hanging structure  102  along a base surface  108 . In  FIG. 1 , a first adjustment mechanism  100  is operably secured to the hanging structure  102  at a first attachment position  152  and the second adjustment mechanism  100  is operably secured to the hanging structure  102  at a second attachment position  154  that is spaced apart from the first attachment position  152 . Because the first attachment position  152  and the second attachment position  154  are spaced apart from each other, the hanging structure  102  is movable in more than one direction. For example, each adjustment mechanism is movable along a vertical axis, which rotates the hanging structure  102  in the desired direction(s). 
         [0030]    In addition, while the adjustment mechanism  100  is preferably positioned near a mounting portion  114  of the frame  106 , in other aspects or applications it may be desirable to position the adjustment mechanism  100  and/or the frame  106  at any other position. Also, in the disclosed embodiment, the recess  110  is approximately positioned in a center region of the frame  106 . In other possible examples, the recess  110  is positioned in any suitable position on the frame  106  so long as the recess  110  is any suitable size and shape to operably receive a slidable plate  112 . While the example roller assemblies  104  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  include one adjustment mechanism  100 , any desired number of adjustment mechanisms may be included in alternative examples. The roller assemblies  104  can be integrally formed with their respective adjustment mechanisms  100  in the example illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  or the roller assemblies  104  are discrete structures from the adjustment mechanisms  100 . Similarly, the hanging structure  102  may be any suitable structure including, but not limited to a door panel, a window panel, window coverings, curtains, ladders, art work, decorative elements, or the like. 
         [0031]    Thus, although preferred, more preferred, and alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be appreciated that the spirit and scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments, but extend to the various modifications and equivalents as defined in the appended claims.