Abstract:
A running mechanism assembly includes a profile element ( 5 ) whose hollow space ( 10 ) with the guide groove ( 9 ) is laid bare by a recess ( 15 ), which makes possible the perpendicular insertion of the running mechanism ( 19 ). The running mechanism ( 19 ) is locked within the guide grove ( 9 ) by displacement within the latter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a running mechanism assembly for a sliding door, including a profile element with a hollow space on the upper edge of the sliding door and an upwardly opening guide groove for accommodating a running mechanism, which is constructed and adapted for engaging in a guide rail lying above it on a cabinet or on a ceiling and for guiding the sliding door suspended on running rollers. 
     The running mechanisms which carry a sliding door and are guided in a rail arranged above the sliding door are usually screwed firmly on the upper edge of the sliding door and, in case the latter is closed off above with a profile, the running mechanism is inserted into the profile at the end and then held fast by a locking device. With sliding doors which are surrounded by an enclosing frame, the running mechanism cannot, for aesthetic reasons, be screwed on above or be inserted through an opening laterally penetrating the frame in the profile closing off the upper edge. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to create a running mechanism assembly in which insertion of the running carriage is possible without a lateral end penetration of the frame profile surrounding the sliding door. 
     This objective is accomplished by a running mechanism assembly wherein a recess is provided in the profile element so as to partially expose the guide groove and the hollow space, which recess allows the insertion and fastening of the running mechanism horizontally from behind or from above into the guide groove. 
     Owing to the recess exposing the guide groove on the back side of the sliding door or on its upper edge, the running mechanism can be introduced, without the use of tools, perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the guide groove into the latter and locked therein by longitudinal displacement. No further parts are necessary for locking the running mechanism. The recess is not visible from the outside of the cabinet, and therefore requires no subsequent covering. The running mechanism can be removed from the profile frame of the sliding door at any time for working on the sliding door or when changing it. The running mechanism as well as the recess in the profile element on the sliding door can be economically manufactured. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiment(s) which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise assemblys and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 depicts a cutaway side view of the upper edge and a side edge of a sliding door; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of a running mechanism; 
     FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view as in FIG. 1 with inserted running mechanism; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section along line IV—IV in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of a sliding door with a recess in the profile element; and 
     FIG. 6 is a cutaway side view of the upper edge and a side edge of a sliding door. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In FIG. 1 the left upper comer of a sliding door  1  is visible in cutaway. The edges of the sliding door  1  are enclosed by vertically and horizontally running profile elements  3 ,  5  and joined with the latter. Drawn hollow aluminum profiles or plastic profiles can be used as profile elements  3 ,  5 . The cross-section of the profile is preferably rectangular, and a box-shaped guide groove  9  is embedded in its upper edge  7 , which is closed off above by two guide projections bounding the guide groove  9  laterally. A further groove  13  (FIG. 4) is formed on the lower edge of the profile element  5 , into which the upper edge of the sliding door  1  is insertable and lockable. 
     In the first embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , a recess  15 , laterally opening the groove  9  or the hollow space formed by groove  9 , is installed in the horizontally lying profile element  5 . The recess  15  extends down to the bottom of the groove and has a length L which corresponds to the length of the guide element  21  of a running running mechanism  19 , or is slightly larger. The recess  15  consequently lays bare the guide groove  9  and the hollow space  10  in profile  5  from the side and permits lateral insertion of the running mechanism  19  into the guide groove  9  perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the latter. The running mechanism  19  includes, in addition to guide element  21 , a pair of rollers  23  which is carried by an axle  25 , and a locking element  27  which extends at right angles to the axle  25 . The locking element  27  or its end  29  lies higher than the guide element  21  and is constructed tongue-like. Above the locking part  27 , a stopper element  31  can additionally be constructed for braking and holding the sliding door  1  firmly in the end position . 
     The rollers  23  are guided in a guide rail  33  (FIG.  4 ), which is embedded in the ceiling of a cabinet or the ceiling of a room (not shown). The guide rail  33  includes a hollow profile with a groove  35  laying bare the hollow space below. At the sides of the groove  35  guide tracks  37  are provided, on which the rollers  23  can roll. 
     The running mechanism  19  can be made of plastic or metal. During the manufacture of a cabinet, it is introduced at the end into the guide rail  33  and is held in the guide rail  33  during transport. For connecting the sliding door  1  with the running mechanism  19  (usually there are two of them per door plate), the sliding door  1  is introduced to the cabinet from the front and pushed under the running mechanism  19 . This is possible since the guide elements  21  of the running mechanism  19  can be inserted through the recesses  15  into the profile elements  5  on the sliding door  1 . After inserting the running mechanism  19  or its guide element  21  into the profile elements  5 , the running mechanisms  19  are pushed in the displacement direction of the sliding door so far to right, until the locking elements  27  or the ends  29  of the locking elements (which after insertion are at first suspended to the side of the recess  15  on the profile element  5 ) lock into the recess  15  (compare FIG.  3 ). The running mechanism  19  is now connected firmly with the sliding door  1  in all directions. 
     If a sliding door  1  must subsequently be removed from the cabinet, the ends  29  of the locking device  27  must be lifted with a screw driver, which is introduced into the recess  15 , so that the running mechanism  19  is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the door, in the present case to the left, and is thereby removable from the sliding door  1  through the recess  15  perpendicular to the sliding direction. 
     The second embodiment of the invention in accordance with FIG. 5 differs from the first one in that the recess  15 ′ does not lay bare the groove  9  from the side, but rather from above. The recess  15 ′ is thus rectangular and permits inserting the sliding door  1  from below into the running mechanism  19 , and afterward displacing the running mechanism  19  laterally, as described in the first embodiment, until locking of the locking element  27  takes place within the recess  15 ′. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiment(s) described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.