Patent Publication Number: US-11655658-B2

Title: Shower door guide assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Various embodiments relate to guide assemblies for shower door assemblies. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The prior art has provided guide assemblies for sliding shower door assemblies. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment, a guide assembly is provided with a bracket sized to be fastened to a shower door opening. The bracket has a first lengthwise retainer. A guide with a second lengthwise retainer is sized to be retained by the first lengthwise retainer of the bracket. The guide has at least one channel formed therein and is sized to receive a shower door pane within the channel for translation of the shower door pane relative to the guide. 
     According to a further embodiment, at least one mounting aperture is formed through the bracket. The guide conceals the at least one mounting aperture. 
     According to another further embodiment, a pair of side plates, are each sized to be fastened to an end of the guide or the bracket to limit translation of the guide relative to the bracket. 
     According to yet another further embodiment, the first lengthwise retainer and the second lengthwise retainer are further provided with a tapered key and a body portion with a tapered keyway to retain the guide upon the bracket. 
     According to an even further embodiment, the first lengthwise retainer is further provided with the tapered key. 
     According to another even further embodiment, at least one mounting aperture is formed through the tapered key of the bracket. 
     According to another further embodiment, the guide is further provided with a pair of lengthwise projections extending away from the bracket with the channel formed therein. 
     According to an even further embodiment, the pair of lengthwise projections are each provided with an external surface spaced apart from the bracket and angled to direct water. 
     According to another embodiment, a shower door assembly is provided with a track sized to extend across a shower door opening. A shower door pane is sized to cooperate with the track for translation relative to the track. The shower door pane has a range of clearance relative to the track for installation and disassembly of the shower door pane relative to the track. A guide assembly is provided with a bracket sized to be fastened to the shower door opening. The bracket has a first lengthwise retainer. A guide with a second lengthwise retainer is sized to be retained by the first lengthwise retainer of the bracket. The guide has at least one channel formed therein and is sized to receive a shower door pane within the channel for translation of the shower door pane relative to the guide. A depth of the channel exceeds the range of clearance of the shower door pane relative to the track. 
     According to another embodiment, a shower door assembly is provided with a track sized to extend across a shower door opening. A shower door pane is sized to cooperate with the track for translation relative to the track. The shower door pane has a range of clearance relative to the track for installation and disassembly of the shower door pane relative to the track. A guide is sized to be installed to a shower door opening. The guide has at least one channel formed therein to receive the shower door pane for translation relative to the guide. A depth of the channel exceeds the range of clearance of the shower door pane relative to the track. 
     According to a further embodiment, a bracket is sized to be fastened to the shower door opening. The bracket has a first lengthwise retainer. The guide is further provided with a second lengthwise retainer sized to be retained by the first lengthwise retainer of the bracket. 
     According to an even further embodiment, at least one mounting aperture is formed through the bracket. The guide conceals the at least one mounting aperture. 
     According to another further embodiment, a pair of side plates are provided, each sized to be fastened to an end of the guide or the bracket to limit translation of the guide relative to the bracket. 
     According to another further embodiment, the first lengthwise retainer and the second lengthwise retainer are further provided as a tapered key and a body portion with a tapered keyway to retain the guide upon the bracket. 
     According to an even further embodiment, the first lengthwise retainer is further provided as the tapered key. 
     According to an even further embodiment, at least one mounting aperture is formed through the tapered key of the bracket. 
     According to another further embodiment, the guide is further provided with a pair of lengthwise projections extending upward from the guide with the channel formed therein. 
     According to an even further embodiment, the pair of lengthwise projections are each provided with an external surface spaced apart from the bracket and angled to direct water. 
     According to another embodiment, a method of assembling a shower door assembly installs a track to a shower stall. A shower door pane is installed to the track. A bracket is installed to the shower stall. A guide is slid onto the bracket between the bracket and the shower door pane to prevent disassembly of the shower door pane from the track. 
     According to a further embodiment, a pair of side plates is fastened to ends of the guide and the bracket to retain the guide upon the bracket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a shower door assembly according to an embodiment, illustrating an installation step; 
         FIG.  2    is a side elevation view of an upper region of the shower door assembly of  FIG.  1   , illustrating another installation step; 
         FIG.  3    is another side elevation view of the upper region of the shower door assembly of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a guide assembly of the shower door assembly of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a side elevation view of the guide assembly of  FIG.  4   ; 
         FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view of the guide assembly of  FIG.  4   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a side perspective view of the guide assembly of  FIG.  4   , illustrated partially disassembled and in cooperation with the shower door assembly; 
         FIG.  8    is an exploded perspective view of the upper region of the shower door assembly of  FIG.  1   , illustrating another installation step; and 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of the upper region of the shower door assembly of  FIG.  1   , illustrating another installation step. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a shower door assembly  10  according to an embodiment. The shower door assembly  10  is illustrated during installation into a shower stall  12 . The shower stall  12  includes a pair of sidewalls  14  and a floor  16 . The shower stall  12  may also include a sill  17  extending up from the floor  16 . The shower door assembly  10  includes a top track  18  that is installed to the pair of sidewalls  14  to span a length between the sidewalls  14 . The shower door assembly  10  may include a pair of track brackets  20  that are fastened to the sidewalls  14  to support the top track  18 . 
     A first shower door subassembly  22  is provided to be installed upon the top track  18  to translate relative to the top track  18 . The first shower door subassembly  22  includes a shower door pane  24 , which may be formed from tempered glass or any suitable material. The shower door pane  24  has a width that is less than a length of the top track  18  in order to translate the shower door pane  24  for ingress and egress of an occupant into and out of the shower stall  12 . 
     The first shower door subassembly  22  includes a pair of roller assemblies  26  mounted to an upper region of the shower door pane  24 . The roller assemblies  26  support the shower door pane  24  upon the top track  18 . The roller assemblies  26  cooperate with the top track  18  to support the roller assemblies  26  and the shower door pane  24  upon the top track  18 , while permitting translation of the first shower door subassembly  22  along the top track  18 . 
       FIG.  1    illustrates the first shower door subassembly  22  during installation. The first shower door subassembly  22  is illustrated within the shower stall  12  and angled offset from vertical to approach an installation of the roller assemblies  26  upon the top track  18  by lifting in a direction of arrows labeled  1 .  FIG.  2    illustrates an upper region of the shower door assembly  10 . The top track  18  includes a side opening  28  for access to a channel  30 , which provides a track guide. The roller assemblies  26  each include a wheel  32  projecting from the shower door pane  24 . The wheel  32  is sized to be inserted through the side opening  28  of the top track  18  to then rest upon the channel  30 . Once the wheels  32  are inserted into the side openings  28 , then the first shower door subassembly  22  is lowered in the direction of labeled arrow  2 , and pivoted in a direction of labeled arrow  3  so that the wheels  32  are received in the channel  30  as illustrated in  FIG.  3   . Although the track  18  is illustrated with a side opening  28 , any suitable track may be employed with any suitable openings for receipt of the wheels  32 . 
     The roller assembly  26  includes a bracket  34  fastened to an upper end the shower door pane  24  by fasteners  36 ,  38 . The limited clearance of the side opening  28  retains the wheel  32  within a cavity  48  in the top track  18  and prevents disassembly of the first shower door subassembly  22  from the top track  18  in the vertical orientation of the shower door pane  24 . In order to install the first shower door subassembly  22 , the shower door subassembly  22  is pivoted to an angle so that the wheel  32  can pass through the restricted side opening  28 . Top tracks  18  are often installed with the side opening  28  facing into the shower stall  12  to provide a consistent and uninterrupted outer face  44  to be viewed externally. Therefore, the first shower door subassembly  22  may often be installed as an inner shower door subassembly  22  that is installed from within the shower stall  12  as illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
     The shower door assembly  10  may include a lower dam strip  50  that is installed between the sidewalls  14  adjacent to the shower floor  16 . In the depicted embodiment, the lower dam strip  50  is installed upon the sill  17 . The shower door assembly  10  may also be employed without a lower dam strip. 
       FIGS.  4 - 7    illustrate a center guide assembly  52  for a lower end of the shower door assembly  10 . The center guide assembly  52  may be installed upon the lower dam strip  50  of the shower door assembly  10  of  FIG.  1   . The center guide assembly  52  may also be installed directly upon the sill  17  in a shower door assembly  54  of  FIG.  7   . 
     The center guide assembly  52  includes a central divider  56 . The center guide assembly  52  includes an inner retainer  58  with a channel  60  between the inner retainer  58  and the central divider  56 . The center guide assembly  52  also includes an outer retainer  62  with a channel  64  between the outer retainer  62  and the central divider  56 . The channels  60 ,  64  are sized to receive a lower end of the shower door pane  24  and a shower door pane  66  of a second shower door subassembly  68  respectively. 
     The channels  60 ,  64  are sized to prevent rotation of the shower door panes  24 ,  66  relative to the top track  18  as illustrated in  FIG.  7   . The retainers  58 ,  62  overlap the shower door panes  24 ,  66  by a dimension that is designed to be large enough so that the if the shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68  are lifted relative to the track  18 , the lower end of each shower door pane  24 ,  66  is still retained within the channel  60 ,  64 . The overlap prevents the shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68  from being pivoted relative to the top track  18 , which may consequently result in disassembly of the shower door assembly  10 . 
     The guide assembly  52  is a multicomponent assembly for ease in installation and assembly of the shower door assembly  10 . The guide assembly  52  includes a bracket  70  as illustrated in  FIGS.  6  and  7   , and a guide  72  as illustrated in  FIGS.  4 ,  6  and  7   . With reference now to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the bracket  70  may be formed of a structurally suitable material, such as a polymer or a metallic alloy. For example, the bracket  70  may be formed from extruded aluminum. The bracket  70  includes a substrate  74  that is sized to be supported upon the sill  17 . The bracket  70  includes a plurality of lengthwise keys  76 ,  78 ,  80  extending upward from the substrate  74 . The center key  76  is formed tapered to widen away from the substrate  74  to provide a lengthwise retainer. The inner key  78  and the outer key  80  are each sized to provide support to the guide  72 . The inner key  78  and the outer key  80  may be formed symmetrically so that the bracket  70  can be installed facing either lengthwise direction. 
     The bracket  70  includes a pair of apertures  82  formed through the center key  76 . The apertures  82  are sized for receipt of fasteners to fasten the bracket  70  to the sill  17 . The apertures  82  may be countersunk to receive the heads of the fasteners. During installation of the shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68 , the bracket  70  may be installed to the sill  17  without interference of the shower door panes  24 ,  66 . The keys  76 ,  78 ,  80  have a limited height to avoid contact with the shower door panes  24 ,  66 . Therefore, shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68  can be hung to the top track  18  after the bracket  70  is installed without interference with the bracket  70 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  4 - 7   , the guide  72  includes a body  84  with a series of lengthwise projections from the body  84  that form the central divider  56  and the inner and outer retainers  58 ,  62  with the channels  60 ,  64 . The guide  72  is formed from a structurally suitable material, such as a polymer or a metallic alloy. For one example, the guide  72  is extruded from an aluminum alloy. With reference again to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , a central portion of the body  84  is formed with a tapered keyway  86  that is sized to receive the center key  76  of the bracket  70 . The central keyway  86  is widened into the depth of the central divider  56 . The central keyway  86  provides a lengthwise retainer to lock the guide  72  in a vertical direction relative to the bracket  70 , and in an ingress/egress direction of the shower stall  12 . 
     The guide  72  includes keyways  88 ,  90  formed underneath the inner and outer retainers  58 ,  62 . The inner and outer keyways  88 ,  90  are sized to receive the keys  78 ,  80 . The keys  78 ,  80  provide additional support beneath the inner and outer retainers  58 ,  62 . The keys  76 ,  78 ,  80  and the keyways  86 ,  88 ,  90  are symmetrical so that the guide  72  can be installed in either length direction upon the bracket  70 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  4 - 7   , the central divider  56  includes a top surface  92  that is angled with a decline in one direction. The decline of the top surface  92  is gradual and is readily apparent in the side view of  FIG.  5   . The guide  72  is installed so that the top surface  92  is angled toward the shower stall  12  so that water runs off the guide  72  toward the shower stall  12 . Likewise, the inner and outer retainers  58 ,  62  also include top surfaces  94 ,  96  that are angled to decline toward the shower stall  12  so that water runs toward the shower stall  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  7   , after the shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68  are installed to the top track  18 , the guide  72  is slid lengthwise onto the bracket  70  concealing the bracket  70  and the fastener apertures  82 . Due to the engagement of the central key  76  and the central keyway  86 , the guide  72  is retained in the vertical direction, and in a direction of ingress and egress through the shower door opening of the shower stall  12 . 
       FIGS.  4 - 6    illustrate that the guide assembly  52  includes a pair of side plates  98 ,  100 . Each side plate  98 ,  100  has an area sized to match and cover an overall side profile of the combined bracket  70  and the guide  72 . Each side plate  98 ,  100  forms a terminal portion of the central divider  56 , the inner and outer retainers  58 ,  62 , and the channels  60 ,  64 . A pair of apertures  102  are formed in each of the side plates  98 ,  100 , aligned with the inner and outer retainers  58 ,  62 . As illustrated in  FIGS.  6  and  7   , an arcuate slot  104  is formed within each retainer  58 ,  62  of the guide  72 , intersecting the corresponding keyway  88 ,  90 . Referring back to  FIGS.  4 - 6    a plurality of fasteners  106  are installed into the apertures  102  and the slots  104  to fasten the side plates  98 ,  100  to the guide  72 . During installation, the installer can slide both shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68  to one side to install one side plate  98 ,  100 . Then the installer can slide both shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68  to the other side to install the other side plate  98 ,  100 . 
     The side plates  98 ,  100  have a height that is greater than a height of the guide  72 . The side plates  98 ,  100  extend below the guide  72  and along terminal ends of the bracket  70 . The side plates  98 ,  100  conceal the bracket  70  within the guide  72  and the side plates  98 ,  100 . The side plates  98 ,  100  constrain the bracket  70  between the side plates  98 ,  100  to retain the guide  72  against longitudinal translation relative to the bracket  70 . The side plates  98 ,  100  can be formed from any suitable material, such as a polymer or a metal alloy. According to one embodiment, the side plates  98 ,  100  are stamped from a zinc alloy. 
     Once the guide assembly  52  is installed and assembled, the shower door panes  24 ,  66  are received in the channels  60 ,  64  as illustrated in  FIG.  7   . The shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68  can be slid along the upper track  18  with the panes within the channels  60 ,  64 . The center divider  56 , and the inner and outer retainers  58 ,  62  have a sufficient height to prevent the shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68  from pivoting to an angle for disassembly from the track  18 . Likewise, the channels  60 ,  64  have a depth that exceeds a range of vertical clearance of the shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68  relative to the track  18 . Therefore, the guide assembly  52  limits the degrees of freedom of the shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68 , such that the shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68  can only be slid to open and close relative to the track  18 . 
     The guide assembly  52  ensures that the shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68  do not derail and are not inadvertently disassembled. The guide assembly  52  also prevents the shower door subassemblies  22 ,  68  from contacting each other. The guide assembly  52  also obviates a lengthwise lower dam strip, to eliminate extra material. The guide assembly  52  can be fastened directly to the sill  17 . A lower trim member  108  may be provided on a lower edge of each shower door glass pane  24 ,  66  as illustrated in  FIG.  7   . The trim member  108  prevents contact of the glass panes  24 ,  66  with the center guide assembly  52 . The trim member  108  also includes a fin  110  that extends laterally from the trim member  108  toward the shower stall  12 . The fin  110  directs water that runs along the shower door panes  24 ,  66  toward the shower stall  12 . The trim member  108  may be formed of a resilient material, such as a polymer, with polyvinylchloride (PVC) as one suitable example. The fin  110  may be formed from a relatively softer PVC for flexibility to engage the center divider  56  or the inner retainer  58  of the guide  72 . 
       FIG.  8    illustrates the roller bracket  34  has a plurality of apertures  112  at various elevations relative to the shower door pane  24 . Each of the apertures  112  is sized to receive the fastener  42  thereby permitting vertical adjustment at installation of the shower door pane  24  relative to the center guide assembly  52  to avoid any interference of the shower door pane  24  within the center guide assembly  52 .  FIG.  8    illustrates manual installation with a tool  114  of the fastener  42  through one of the apertures  112 , and consequently into a post  116  of the roller assembly  26 . Installation in the lowermost aperture  112  minimizes the dimension of the overlap of the shower door pane  24  and the center guide assembly  52 . Installation in the uppermost aperture  112  maximizes the dimension of the overlap of the shower door pane  24  and the center guide assembly  52 . The depth of the center guide assembly  52  channels  60 ,  64  are designed to provide an overlap at the lowermost aperture  112  illustrated in  FIG.  9   . 
     The shower door assembly  10  incorporates structural conditions through the use of geometric restrictions and sequentially ordered assembly methods such that no additional components or fixtures are necessary to fully retain the wheels  32  of a shower door subassembly  22  into the top track  18 . The inability of the shower door subassembly  22  to be removed from the assembled shower door assembly  10  by accident is often referred to as an anti jump mechanism. This terminology comes from the characterization of a roller assembly  26  “jumping” off, or out of, the channel  30  of the top track  18 . The prior art has offered additional structural components added to the shower door assemblies  10  to prevent inadvertent disassembly. By control of geometries, dimensions and assembly sequences, additional hardware is omitted thereby reducing cost, simplifying installation, and improving aesthetics of the shower door assembly  10 . 
     In order to disassemble the shower door assembly  10 , the side plates  98 ,  100  and the guide  72  are first removed before the first shower door subassembly  22  can be pivoted to remove the wheels  32  from the top track  18 . 
     While various embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.