Patent Publication Number: US-5832980-A

Title: Floating pivot sliding and swinging panel construction for doors and the like

Description:
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the U.S. provisional application No. 60/011,812, filed Feb. 16, 1996. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to door and window systems which are designed to have panels which slide relative to one another, and more particularly to such systems which further include swinging movement of the panels on a pivot. 
     The construction of door panels having a sliding swinging ability is known in the art. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,334, issued to Slaybaugh, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Slaybaugh discloses a support assembly for a sliding swinging door. The door is supported by this single support assembly, which also acts as a pivot for swinging movement of the door. This provides a simple yet effective means to support a door, from an upper corner only, to accommodate the sliding and swinging movement of the door. 
     Another example of a swinging sliding door structure is U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,074, issued to Leung et al. Leung et al. disclose a convertible door system wherein the door comprises one or more pair of panels. Each pair of panels includes a swinging panel and a sliding panel. The sliding panel can be moved from a closed position, where it is end-to-end with the swinging panel, to a semi-open position, where it is juxtaposed face-to-face with the swinging panel. The sliding panel slides on a track located at the bottom and at the top of the panel. After the panels are in the semi-open position, both panels may then be swung as a unit to fully open the door structure. The swinging panel rotates around pivots which are mounted in the door frame. The track on which the sliding panel slides is comprised of two sections, with one section being mounted on pivots in the door frame. Thus, when the sliding panel is positioned in this section, i.e., when it is in the semi-open position, it swings on pivots mounted in the door frame. Here, a &#34;trip&#34; hazard is present because the sliding panel slides in a track located at the bottom of the door, i.e., on the floor. 
     There are other swinging sliding door constructions known in the art similar to Leung et al. above, but which include mounting the track on which the sliding panel slides on a pivot located on the floor, instead of mounting the pivot in the door frame. To engage in swinging movement, the sliding panel would have to &#34;ride up&#34; onto the pivot. Here, again, a trip hazard is present because the pivot is located on the floor. 
     Another example of a swinging sliding door structure is U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,594, issued to Bunzl. Bunzl discloses a balanced door structure having at least one sliding door, which slides in a track located at the bottom of the door and is suspended from an upper support rail. The door is comprised of a door frame and a swing panel. Hinge means allow the swing panel to disengage from the door frame. The swing panel can then swing out with respect to the door frame. Here, again, a trip hazard is present because the sliding door slides in a track located at the bottom of the door, i.e., on the floor. 
     Another example of a swinging sliding door structure is U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,159, issued to Hewitt et al. Hewitt et al. discloses a swinging slide panel construction wherein the sliding panel slides along a track located at the top of the panel. On one side of the panel, a suspension bar and pivot block is vertically mounted. The panel is allowed to swing about the suspension bar and a pivot pin located at a bottom comer of the panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a closure structure having a pair of panels, which combines a sliding panel structure with a pivoting ability in a manner yielding substantially full and unobstructed access across the width of an opening (e.g., a doorway) when the panels are so pivoted, without the need of a track or other weight-transfer element on the floor for a sliding panel, while also allowing conventional sliding of the panels. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to have a pivot concealed in the panels themselves, thereby avoiding the trip hazard associated with prior art swinging sliding door constructions which include mounting a pivot on the floor. 
     Further, the present invention has the primary track for the sliding movement of the panels positioned at the top of the panels, i.e., the top of the opening. Here again, the trip hazard associated with having track means on the floor itself is eliminated. 
     The present invention may be utilized in any opening or doorway. It is particularly advantageous where a trip hazard needs to be avoided, such as in a hospital intensive care unit. 
     Briefly, the present invention in one form is comprised of at least first and second panels. The second panel is allowed to slide relative to a first panel via a track, and at least one wheel assembly. The track means is positioned at the top of the panels in a header, which is mounted in the top of the opening. A wheel assembly is mounted to a carrier bar, which engages with a mounting bar, which is mounted to the top of the second panel. The wheel assembly slides in the track to allow the second panel to slide relative to the first panel. The second panel can slide from a fully closed position, wherein the panels are fully extended relative to one another, to a slid-open position, wherein the panels are substantially overlapped. 
     In the foregoing embodiment, the first panel is pivotally fixed at the top and bottom of the opening at one side of the opening. The second panel has a torsion bar mounted within one side thereof. In the swinging mode of operation of the panels (i.e., the panels swinging as a unit), the first panel will swing about the top and bottom pivots fixed at one side of the opening, while the second panel will swing with the first panel about the torsion bar and a floating pivot assembly, discussed in more detail below. 
     The second panel is first maintained in the opening, and thus restricted from swinging out with the first panel before it substantially overlaps the first panel, by the mounting bar; the mounting bar is mounted to the top of the second panel, and the carrier bar is movably mounted in a header. In particular, the mounting bar and the carrier bar engage through an overlapping flange interconnection along the length of both bars. When the second panel is rotated so as to disengage the mounting bar from the carrier bar, the mounting bar swings with the panel, while the carrier bar remains in a channel of the header. 
     A stop bar is mounted along a section of the header such that when the panels are fully extended relative to one another, the mounting bar abuts the stop bar to prevent the two panels from swinging together. When the panels are substantially overlapped, the stop bar no longer abuts the mounting bar, and the second panel is no longer restricted from swinging out. 
     The first panel is further maintained in the opening and thus restricted from swinging out by a bolt assembly positioned in the first panel. Once this bolt assembly is released, the panels may pivot together through the floating pivot assembly. 
     The floating pivot assembly is positioned inside, or concealed within, the panels. A pivot mounting is mounted to a section of the bottom of the second panel, with a channel formed therein. A guide is mounted within this channel and is adapted to slide within this channel. An arm extends from this guide, with a pivot member mounted thereon. The pivot member is received within a second channel formed along the bottom of the first panel to slide therein. 
     Preferably, the pivot mounting is comprised of a mounting block and a slide channel unit. Thus, the mounting block is mounted to a section of the bottom of the second panel, and the slide channel unit is mounted to the mounting block. The slide channel unit is comprised of a channel plate, with the channel formed therein. Preferably, the guide and the arm are comprised of a mounting plate and an L-shaped base plate. The mounting plate is slidably received within the channel through mounting studs, and the L-shaped base plate is mounted to the mounting plate. The L-shaped plate has the pivot member mounted thereon, which can be a wheel or roller. Thus, the wheel slides within the channel formed in the bottom of the first panel as the second panel slides relative to the first panel. 
     The wheel also forms the bottom pivot point for the second panel when the panels are in the swinging mode of operation. As the panels start their swinging movement, the second panel pivots about the wheel positioned within the first panel. Because the wheel can slide in the track formed in the bottom of the first panel, the second panel swings from a beginning position where it overlaps the first panel to an ending position where it is overlapped by the first panel. 
     A support member is positioned on the upper side of the first panel facing the second panel. Preferably, this support member is a guide roller. A guide bar is positioned along the upper side of the second panel facing the first panel. The guide roller is slidably received within a channel formed in the guide bar. Once the second panel begins its swinging mode of operation, the weight of this panel is transferred via the guide bar to the guide roller of the first panel. 
     Thus, door sag of the second panel is prevented because the weight of the second panel is distributed to the first panel during the swinging mode of operation of the panels. In addition, the guide bar itself is wide enough to prevent &#34;finger pinch&#34; in the space between the overlapped panels during the sliding and swinging movements of the panels. Because the floating pivot assembly is concealed in the panels, the need for a weight transfer pivot mounted to the floor is eliminated, along with the attendant trip hazard of such a pivot. Lastly, because the floating pivot assembly is concealed in the panels, and thus the second panel slides on a track located at the top of the opening and on a track located within the bottom of the first panel, the need for a track mounted to the floor is eliminated, along with the attendant trip hazard of such a track. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows taken in conjunction with the drawings, described below. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door structure made in accordance with the teachings of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the door structure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5a is a schematic view of the bottom of the panels of FIG. 1 in the full-closed position (full extension); 
     FIG. 5b is a view similar to that of FIG. 5a showing the panels sliding relative to one another; 
     FIG. 5c is a view similar to that of FIG. 5a showing the panels slid fully open relative to one another (full overlap); 
     FIG. 5d is a view similar to that of FIG. 5a showing the panels swung fully open; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the slide channel assembly; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the slide channel assembly of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of the floating pivot assembly; and 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the pivot assembly of FIG. 8. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a left panel 10 and a right panel 11 (left and right are referenced herein relative to the viewer). Panel 11 slides relative to panel 10, as will be further discussed below. The panels 10, 11 may be comprised of any material suited for a door panel, such as wood, glass and the like. Each panel 10, 11 is comprised of a single pane of glass 14, 15, respectively, or a double pane of glass. Each pane of glass 14, 15 is mounted and glazed in standard fashion within the left and right frames 16, 17, respectively. Each frame 16, 17 can be manufactured through any conventional process for constructing door frames. In one embodiment, the frames 16, 17 are comprised of conventional extruded aluminum interlocking sections using a rod-bolted construction. A door handle 12 is provided, which can also be a recessed handle on both sides. 
     The left panel 10 includes means for mounting the panel in the opening for pivoting the first panel open and closed in the swinging mode of operation. In particular, the left panel 10 is pivotally fixed to the floor on a pivot base plate 18 having a base pivot pin 19. This base pivot pin 19 is received in a bottom pivot assembly 22 fixed within the left-hand bottom side of the left frame 16, as by screws 23 or any other conventional attachment means. At the upper left-hand side of the left frame 16 is a similar top pivot assembly 26, likewise fixed in place with screws 23 or any other conventional attachment means. Top pivot assembly 26 has an integral pivot pin 27 which is received in an appropriate receptacle (not shown) in a header assembly 30. The header assembly 30 is mounted within the top of the door opening. In a preferred embodiment, the header assembly 30 is made of extruded aluminum stock. 
     The right panel 11 has a torsion bar 35 mounted within the left-hand side of its frame 17. The upper end of the torsion bar 35 extends through a hole 36 in a mounting bar 37, through a carrier collar 38 and into a carrier bar 39. The torsion bar 35 is fixed to the carrier bar 39 by a hex screw assembly 40 or any other conventional attachment means. A bracket assembly 41 attaches the lower end of the torsion bar 35 within the frame 17. 
     The carrier bar 39 has left and right wheel assemblies 43, 44, respectively, mounted thereon. A channel 31 is formed in the header 30. These wheel assemblies 43, 44 slide in the channel 31 to allow the right panel 11 to slide relative to the left panel 10 (see FIG. 3) 
     The mounting bar 37 is fixed, as by screws 46, to the top of the right frame 17. Means for releasably engaging the panels 10, 11 for sliding movement and releasably disengaging the panels 10, 11 when in the swinging mode of operation comprises the mounting bar 37 and the carrier bar 39. The mounting bar 37 and the carrier bar 39 engage through an overlapping flange interconnection 100 along the length of the bars 37, 39. When the mounting bar 37 releasably disengages from the carrier bar 39, as further described below, the panels can then swing out. This provides a break-away feature. Conceivably, the right panel 11 could be adapted to rotate relative to the panel 10 while in the fully-extended condition, but that is not how the present embodiment is adapted. 
     In addition to the interconnection between the mounting bar 37 and the carrier bar 39, other features are employed in the present invention to maintain the panels in the opening, and thus to prevent the joint swinging mode of operation of panels 10, 11 until the panel 11 is slid to substantially overlap the panel 10. Substantial overlap occurs when the panel 11 is slid into its leftmost position. In one embodiment, substantial overlap occurs when the right panel 11 extends about one inch farther than the left panel 10. 
     A first feature is a stop bar 50 mounted along a section of the header 30. The length of the stop bar 50 along the header 30 is such that the right panel 11 can pivot with panel 10 only after the panel 11 has slid past, or cleared, the stop bar 50. In particular, the mounting bar 37 of the panel 11 abuts the stop bar 50 until the right panel 11 is slid to its leftmost position. Another feature is a standard flush bolt assembly 55 mounted within the right-hand side of the top of the left panel 16. The bolt assembly 55 prevents swinging movement of the panel 10 until it is released. 
     Mounted along the upper side of right frame 17 facing the left panel 10 is a guide bar 58, which is fixed to the frame by cap screws 59. The guide bar 58 has a downwardly open channel 60 formed therein. A support member is mounted to the upper right-hand side of left frame 16 facing the right panel 11. In one embodiment, the support member is a guide wheel or roller 62 (see FIG. 3). The roller 62 is mounted on a shaft 63 and truss head screw 64 assembly (see FIG. 2). The roller 62 is received in the channel 60 of the guide bar 58. When the panel 11 begins to swing, the weight of this panel is transferred to the roller 62 via the guide bar 58. Thus, the weight of panel 11 is transferred to the panel 11 as the now-overlapped panels 10, 11 rotate in swinging movement. The guide bar 58 is wide enough to avoid &#34;finger pinch&#34; during the sliding and swinging movement of the panels. A stop block 65 is located above the roller 62 to prevent derailing of the door. 
     When the right panel 11 is moved to its leftmost position, i.e., such that the mounting bar 37 no longer abuts the stop bar 50, and when the flush bolt 55 is released, the panels are now ready to engage in the swinging mode of operation, utilizing the floating pivot assembly 70 of the present invention. FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the floating pivot assembly 70, which is mounted to the bottom of the right frame 17 and is received within the bottom of the left frame 16. In one embodiment, this assembly 70 is generally comprised of a pivot mounting 75, a channel 76, a guide 88, an arm 89 extending from the guide 88, and a pivot member 81. The pivot member 81 is slidably received within a channel 85 (FIG. 2) formed along the bottom of the left frame 16. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the pivot mounting is comprised of a mounting block 71 and a slide channel unit 72. The guide 88 and the arm 89 extending from the guide 88 are comprised of a mounting plate 78 and an L-shaped base plate 73 which is fixed to the mounting plate 78. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 9, the mounting block 71 is mounted to the bottom of the right frame 17 by any conventional means, such as by screws 87 or bolts. The slide channel unit 72 is mounted to the bottom of mounting block 71 by screws 90. 
     The slide channel unit 72 is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The slide channel unit 72 is comprised of a channel plate 75, with a channel 76 formed therein. A mounting plate 78 is received in the channel 76 by mounting studs 77. The mounting plate 78 slides within the channel 76. 
     Turning now to FIG. 8, an L-shaped pivot plate 73 is fixed to the mounting plate 78. A pivot member 81 is mounted on the L-shaped base plate 73. The pivot member 81 has a rotatable pivot wheel assembly 80 with a wheel 81. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a channel 85 is positioned in the bottom of the left frame 16. The wheel 81 is received within this channel 85. Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b (and note that these FIGS. 5a-5d are a bottom view), the pivot assembly 70 moves with the right panel as the right panel 11 slides relative to left panel 10. (The channel plate 75 is omitted from FIGS. 5b-5c for ease of illustration.) As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wheel 81 slides in the channel 85 at the bottom of the left frame 16, as the wheel assemblies 43, 44 of the carrier bar 39 slide in the channel 31 formed in the header 30, at the top of the panels. 
     FIGS. 5c and 5d illustrate the floating pivot assembly 70 when the panels 10, 11 are placed in the swinging mode of operation. The wheel 81 forms the bottom pivot point for the right panel 11, when both panels 10, 11 are in the swinging mode. Wheel 81 moves within the channel 85 while L-shaped pivot plate 73 slides in the channel 76 in the slide channel unit 72, as the panel 11 pivots about the wheel 81. The floating pivot assembly 70 permits the panels to swing together in a confined space as the left panel 10 swings on pivots 19 and 27 and as the right panel 11 swings on its pivot: the wheel 81. The floating pivot assembly 70 compensates and adjusts for the motion of the right panel 11 as its nose passes that of the left panel 10 (note movement of base plate 73 relative to channel plate 75 shown in FIG. 5d) as both panels 10, 11 swing so that the doorway is fully open. 
     Since spacing is maintained by the floating pivot assembly 70 and the guide roller 62 in combination with the guide bar 58, &#34;finger pinch&#34; is prevented in the space between the overlapped panel ends. Sagging of the panel 11 is prevented because the weight of the panel 11 is transferred to the guide roller 62 via the guide bar 58 once the panel 1I1 is released from carrier bar 39. The need for a pivot mounted to the floor for a panel, as in the prior art, is eliminated, with the attendant trip hazard that such a floor mounted point would entail, because the pivots for the panels are either positioned in the door frame or concealed within the panels themselves. The need for a track mounted to the floor for a sliding panel, as in the prior art, is also eliminated, with the trip hazard associated with such a track, because the sliding panel slides on tracks located at the top of the opening and in the bottom of the first panel. 
     Those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains may make modifications and other embodiments employing the principles of this invention without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Consequently, while the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and the like would be apparent to those skilled in the art, yet still fall within the scope of the invention.