Patent Publication Number: US-8991099-B1

Title: Double acting patio door

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     (NOT APPLICABLE) 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     (NOT APPLICABLE) 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a patio door assembly and, more particularly, to a multi-panel door assembly that is selectively arrangeable into multiple configurations. 
     Sliding glass doors are typically constructed with two door panels supported in a frame where one of the two panels is slidable into an overlaying position relative to the other panel to open the doors. The size of the opening is typically limited to the size of the sliding panel. 
     It would be desirable to provide for selective configurations of a door assembly so that an opening for the door assembly can be made larger than the normal opening for entertaining or other purposes. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A multi-panel door assembly includes at least three panels that are selectively configurable into multiple orientations. In one orientation, the primary door may be displaceable between a normal closed position and a normal open position. By virtue of a swinging door jamb, the door panels can be overlaid on one another to provide a larger “party” opening. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a door assembly includes a first fixed door jamb including at least three panel landings, and a second fixed door jamb including at least two panel landings generally aligned with and opposed to a corresponding at least two of the panel landings of the first fixed door jamb. Two panel tracks extend between the first fixed door jamb and the second fixed door jamb. A fixed door panel is secured in one of the at least three panel landings of the first fixed door jamb, and two movable door panels are cooperable with the two panel tracks, respectively, and the two movable door panels include a primary door panel and a secondary door panel. A swinging door jamb is selectively displaceable between an engaged position, in which the swinging door jamb is positioned between a facing pair of the first fixed door jamb panel landings and the second fixed door jamb panel landings, and a disengaged position, in which the swinging door jamb is clear of the facing pair of panel landings. The two movable door panels are selectively positionable between the first fixed door jamb and the second fixed door jamb. 
     The first fixed door jamb, the second fixed door jamb, and the swinging door jamb may define three panel positions including a first side position, a center position, and a second side position, where the fixed door panel is fixed in the first side position. In this context, with the swinging door jamb in the engaged position, the primary door panel may be displaceable between the center position and the second side position. With the swinging door jamb in the disengaged position, the primary door panel may be displaceable between the first side position and the second side position. The secondary door panel may be displaceable between the first side position and the second side position. 
     With the swinging door jamb in the engaged position, the door assembly may be closed by positioning the primary door panel in the center position and by positioning the secondary door panel in the second side position. With the swinging door jamb in the disengaged position, the door assembly may be arrangeable into a party configuration with each of the fixed door panel, the primary door panel, and the secondary door panel in the first side position. 
     The two movable door panels may include panel connectors that are engageable with each other to define a sealed connection. In this context, the panel connectors may define the sealed connection when the door assembly is in a closed configuration. 
     In one arrangement, the swinging door jamb is coupled with the fixed door panel. 
     The first fixed door jamb and the second fixed door jamb may be identical. 
     The swinging door jamb may be displaceable from the engaged position to the disengaged position across 90°. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a multi-panel door assembly is arrangeable into multiple configurations. The multi-panel door assembly includes at least three panel positions, including a first side position, a second side position, and a center position between the first and second side positions, and a corresponding at least three door panels including a fixed door panel, a primary door panel, and a secondary door panel. The fixed door panel is fixed in the first side position, and the secondary door panel is displaceable between the first side position and the second side position. A swinging door jamb is selectively displaceable between an engaged position, in which the swinging door jamb is positioned in a displacement path of the primary door panel such that the primary door panel is displaceable between the center position and the second side position, and a disengaged position, in which the swinging door jamb is clear of the displacement path and the primary door panel is displaceable between the first side position and the second side position. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a method of arranging the multi-panel door assembly of the preferred embodiments from a closed configuration in which the swinging jamb is in the engaged position, in which the primary door panel is in the center position, and in which the secondary door panel is locked in the second side position, to a party configuration, includes the steps of sliding the primary door panel from the center position to the second side position; displacing the swinging door jamb from the engaged position to the disengaged position; unlocking the secondary door panel; and sliding the primary door panel and the secondary door panel to the first side position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other aspects and advantages will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows the door assembly in a closed configuration; 
         FIG. 2  shows the door assembly in a normal open configuration; 
         FIG. 3  shows the door assembly in a “party” configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the door assembly configured for a normal opening/passageway; 
         FIG. 5  shows the door assembly in a configuration in which the door panels can be overlaid into the “party” configuration; 
         FIG. 6  is a stainless steel version with alternative landings for the door panels; and 
         FIG. 7  shows an alternative embodiment utilizing four door panels. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  show the door assembly  10  according to preferred embodiments of the invention in various configurations. The door assembly  10  includes a door frame  12  and at least three door panels  14  supported in the frame  12 . The door panels  14  can be defined as a fixed door panel  14   a , a main or primary door panel  14   b  and a secondary door panel  14   c . The assembly defines three panel positions including a first side position A (or C), a center position B, and a second side position C (or A).  FIG. 1  shows the door assembly in a closed configuration where the door panels  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  are respectfully positioned in the first side position A, the center position B, and the second side position C. 
     As will be discussed in more detail below, the door assembly  10  is selectively arrangeable into multiple configurations.  FIG. 2  shows a normal open configuration where the primary door panel  14   b  overlays the secondary door panel  14   c  in the second side position C. The fixed door panel  14   a  is fixed in the first side position A.  FIG. 3  shows the door assembly  10  arranged in to a party configuration with each of the fixed door panel  14   a , the primary door panel  14   b , and the secondary door panel  14   c  overlaid in the first side position A. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are top sectional views of the door assembly  10 . The door frame  12  includes a first fixed door jamb  12   a  including at least three panel landings or channels  16  and a second fixed door jamb  12   b  including at least two panel landings or channels  18  that are generally aligned with and opposed to a corresponding at least two of the panel channels  16  of the first fixed door jamb  12   a . The landings or channels  16 ,  18  may be structured in any suitable configuration. For example, the landings may be structured into the channel structures shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Alternatively, the landings may comprise a flat surface with a suitable seal. In still another alternative construction, with reference to  FIG. 6 , the landings may comprise posts  160 ,  180  on which the door panels  14   b ,  14   c  engage. In a preferred construction, the first fixed door jamb  12   a  and the second fixed door jamb  12   b  are identical and arranged in a mirrored orientation. As such, the second fixed door jamb  12   b  may include a third panel landing  18 , which may not be used. 
     At least the main door panel  14   b  and the secondary door panel  14   c  are movable on corresponding panel tracks  19  (shown schematically in  FIG. 4 ) that extend between the first fixed door jamb  12   a  and the second fixed door jamb  12   b . In a preferred construction, the fixed door panel  14   a  is fixedly secured (i.e., not intended for sliding displacement) in one of the panel channels  16  of the first fixed door jamb  12   a . The fixed door panel  14   a  may be configured as a fixed pane, window or other structure. Additionally, the fixed door panel  14   a  may be welded as part of the first fixed door jamb  12   a.    
     The assembly also includes a moveable or swinging door jamb  20  that is selectively displaceable between an engaged position ( FIG. 4 ), in which the swinging door jamb  20  is positioned between a facing pair of the first fixed door jamb panel landings  16  and the second fixed door jamb panel landings  18 , and a disengaged position ( FIG. 5 ), in which the swinging door jamb  20  is clear of the facing pair of panel landings  16 ,  18 . In the various configurations, the two movable door panels  14   b ,  14   c  are selectively positionable between the first fixed door jamb  12   a  and the second fixed door jamb  12   b . Use of the term “swinging” is intended to encompass any positional change of the door jamb, including, without limitation, a sliding jamb, a removable jamb, a shifting jamb or any other displacement of the jamb  20  into or out of the path of a movable door panel. 
     In the engaged position shown in  FIG. 4 , the swinging door jamb  20  is positioned to receive the main door panel  14   b  in the center position B via a swinging jamb landing  21 . With the swinging door jamb  20  in the engaged position, the door assembly  10  is closed by positioning the primary door panel  14   b  in the center position B and by positioning the secondary door panel  14   c  in the second side position C. The secondary door panel  14   c  can be locked in the corresponding panel channel  18  of the second fixed door jamb  12   b  with conventional structure. With the swinging door jamb  20  in the engaged position, the main door panel  14   b  is displaceable between the center position B (closed) and the second side position C (open). As shown, the swinging door jamb  20  may be coupled with/adjacent the fixed door panel  14   a  via a hinge  22 . The swinging door jamb  20  is displaceable from the engaged position ( FIG. 4 ) to the disengaged position ( FIG. 5 ) across 90°. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , with the swinging door jamb  20  in the disengaged position, the primary door panel  14   b  is displaceable between the first side position A and the second side position C. Additionally, the secondary door panel  14   c  is displaceable between the first side position A and the second side position C. With the swinging door jamb  20  in the disengaged position, the door assembly  10  is arrangeable into the party configuration shown in  FIG. 3  with each of the fixed door panel  14   a , the main door panel  14   b , and the secondary door panel  14   c  overlaid in the first side position A. 
     Preferably, the two movable door panels  14   b ,  14   c  include panel connectors  24  that are engageable with each other to define a sealed connection. Specifically, the panel connectors  24  define the sealed connection when the door assembly  10  is in the closed configuration. One or both of the panel connectors  24  may include a seal housing  25  for supporting a sealing member. 
     In order to orient the door assembly into the party configuration shown in  FIG. 3  from the closed configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , the primary door panel  14   b  can be slid from the center position B to the second side position C. Subsequently, the swinging jamb  20  can be displaced from the engaged position ( FIG. 4 ) to the disengaged position ( FIG. 5 ). After unlocking the secondary door panel  14   c , the primary door panel  14   b  and the secondary door panel  14   c  can be slid to the first side position A. In order to rearrange the door assembly to the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 , these steps are reversed. 
     Although the door assembly  10  is shown with the three door panels  14  including the fixed door panel  14   a , the primary door panel  14   b , and the secondary door panel  14   c , the invention is not meant to be limited to a three-panel arrangement. The assembly may alternatively include four or more door panels.  FIG. 7  shows an exemplary door assembly  100  with four door panels, including a fixed door panel  140   a , a primary door panel  140   b , and two secondary door panels  140   c ,  140   d . The fixed door jambs  120   a ,  120   b  are sized to accommodate the four door panels  140 . The swinging door jamb  200  is secured adjacent the fixed door panel  140   a  via a hinge  220 . Panel connectors are disposed between the primary door panel  140   b  and the corresponding secondary door panel  140   c  as well as between the secondary door panels  140   c ,  140   d.    
     The door assembly of the preferred embodiments provides a multi-panel door assembly that can be arranged in multiple configurations. The swinging door jamb in its engaged position provides for normal use with the primary door panel displaceable between opened and closed positions. By displacing the swinging door jamb to its disengaged position, the door assembly can be easily configured into a party configuration with all door panels stacked to the side and a wider opening for ingress and egress. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.