Abstract:
A pivot block including a first part for holding a bolt of an associated folding panel, and a second part that is able to be fixed to a track so as to position the first part and the bolt at a location whereby the folding panel is able to pivot about pivot bolt, wherein the first part is moveable relative to the second part lengthwise of the track, for adjustment of the position of the pivot bolt.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Australian Patent Application Number AU2014903783, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a pivot block for a folding panel. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is known to support a hanger bolt of a folding panel in an overhead track using a pivot block, which is installed in the track and fixed in place with a clamp or screw. The location of the block in the track may need to be adjusted so that the bolt is properly aligned and positioned for operation of the folding panel. This adjustment can be achieved manually by releasing and then sliding the block along the track. Once in the preferred location, the block is again fixed in position by either bolting or screwing the block in place. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention seeks to provide a pivot block with an alternative means of adjustment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pivot block including a first part for holding a pivot bolt of an associated folding panel, and a second part that is able to be fixed to a track so as to position the first part and the pivot bolt at a location whereby the folding panel is able to pivot about the pivot bolt, wherein the first part is moveable relative to the second part lengthwise of the track, for adjustment of the position of the pivot bolt. 
         [0006]    Preferably, the first and second parts are connected for telescopic movement. 
         [0007]    Preferably, the pivot block includes a fastener to secure the first and second parts together. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the pivot block includes a cam mechanism that operates between the first and second parts to drive the lengthwise movement of the first part relative to the second part. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the mechanism includes a cam mounted to one of the parts and a follower provided in the other part. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the cam has a shaft that can be accessed through a base of one of the parts and an eccentric boss associated with the shaft that drives the follower when the shaft is rotated. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the follower is in the form of a lateral groove in the other one of the parts. 
         [0012]    Preferably, one of the parts has a slide that moves in and out of a channel formed in the other one of the parts when the parts are moved telescopically under action of the cam mechanism. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the fastener passes through the slide and into a lock nut that clamps against the slide and fixes the parts together. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the pivot block includes one or more connectors that pass through the second part to lock the pivot block to the track. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the first part includes a threaded passage for screw-threaded engagement of the bolt and a lock assembly to secure the bolt against rotation and height adjustment. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the lock assembly includes a collar that registers with flats of the bolt and a keeper for selectively holding the collar against rotation. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the keeper is biased into engagement with the collar. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the keeper includes a push button actuator that allows the keeper to be moved against the bias and out of engagement with the collar, to thereby accommodate rotation of the bolt for height adjustment. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the first part has a base, recessed to house the keeper and the collar, and a cover plate fitted over the base, wherein the cover plater includes openings for the push button and for receipt of the bolt. 
         [0020]    Preferably, a cover plate is also fitted over the base of the second part, with apertures to provide access to the cam mechanism and fastener. 
         [0021]    In another aspect, the pivot block, as described above, is provided in combination with dress plate. The pivot block is configured to carry a bolt and be mounted in a track. The dress plate is adapted to be fitted onto the track after the pivot block is fixed in position and the first part adjusted relative to the second part. The dress plate serves to hide the pivot block from view and includes an elongate slot to accommodate various positions of the bolt, resulting from adjustment of the first part. 
         [0022]    In another aspect, there is provided a pivot block, as described above, in combination with a bolt mounted in the first part of the pivot block. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The invention is described by way of non-limiting example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is an exploded top perspective view of a pivot block; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is an exploded bottom perspective view of the pivot block; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the pivot block; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the pivot block; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the pivot block; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the pivot block; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the pivot block; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of the pivot block; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional side view of the pivot block; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a bottom front perspective view of the pivot block; 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the pivot block; 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is bottom rear perspective view of the pivot block; 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  is a top perspective view showing a track, dress plate and the pivot block; 
           [0037]      FIG. 14  is a bottom perspective view showing the track, dress plate and pivot block; 
           [0038]      FIG. 15  is a bottom front perspective view showing the pivot block mounted in the track; 
           [0039]      FIG. 16  is a bottom rear perspective view showing the pivot block mounted in the track; and 
           [0040]      FIG. 17  is a top perspective view of a dress plate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0041]      FIG. 1  shows a pivot block  10  formed of a first part  1  arranged for telescopic movement relative to a second part  2 . 
         [0042]    The first part  1  has a body  3  with winged side flanges  4  and a raised section  5  with a through passage  6  that has internal threading  7 . A slide  8  extends forwardly of the body  3 . The slide  8  has a central slot  9 , with a rebated shoulder  11  to receive a square lock nut  12 . 
         [0043]    The second part  2  has a body  13 , also with side flanges  14 , and a channel  15  to receive the slide  8  of the first part  1 . A cam  16  is fitted into a base  37  of the second part  2  and is held in place with a cover plate  17 . The cam  16  has an eccentric boss  18  and a shaft  19  that can be accessed through an aperture  20  in the cover plate  17 . 
         [0044]    The plate  17  also has an opening  21  for a fastener  22  that is arranged to pass through the slide  8 , the lock nut  12  and into an aligned opening  23  in a top  24  of the second part  2 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  shows a circular recess  25  in the base  37  of the second part  2 , arranged to receive the cam  16 . A lateral slot  26  is provided in the first part  1 , extending sideward of the slide  8 . The slot  26  acts as a follower  27  that is driven by the cam  16 . 
         [0046]    A base  28  of the first part  1  is also provided with a cover plate  29  that covers a lock mechanism  30  housed within the base  28 . The lock mechanism  30  includes a push button actuator  31  that projects through an aperture  32  in the plate  29 . The actuator  31  is used to selectively engage a collar  32  that is fitted to flats  33  of a hanger bolt  34  (shown in truncated form for ease of description) introduced into the passage  6 . The operation of the lock mechanism  30  is described in more detail later. 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  shows the first and second parts  1 ,  2  of the pivot block  10  in an assembled condition where the fastener  22  projects up through the opening  23  in the top  24  of the second part  2 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  shows a gap  35  between the body  3  of the first part  1  and the body  13  of the second part  2 , which provides space for the first part  1  to be adjusted closer to the second part  2 , if needed. 
         [0049]      FIG. 5  shows the lock nut  12  mounted in the slide  8 , in alignment with the fastener  22  whereby tensioning of the fastener  22  will cause the lock nut  12  to clamp down onto the slide  8 , to fix the position of the first part  1  relative to the second part  2 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 6  shows the flanges  14  of the second part  2  are formed with curved grips  36  and that the fastener  22  and shaft  19  are accessible from the base  17  of the second part  2 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 7  also illustrates the actuator  31  as being accessible from a base  28  of the first part  1  and  FIG. 8  shows the side flanges  4  are also provided with curved grips  38 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 9  is a cross section of the pivot block  10 , which shows a cam mechanism  39  that includes the cam  16  and the follower  27 . To telescopically adjust the first part  1  in and out of the second part  2 , the shaft  19  of the cam  16  is rotated, which results in corresponding movement of the boss  18 . This in turn causes the boss  18  to track along the lateral slot  26  and force the slide  8  to the left or right, as viewed, which translates into movement of the first part  1 . As a result, the position of the bolt  34  mounted in the first part  1  can be adjusted accordingly. 
         [0053]    Once the correct position has been obtained, the fastener  22  is used to fix the first and second parts  1 ,  2  together. 
         [0054]    Referring now to the lock mechanism  30 , the actuator  31  forms part of a keeper  40  that is recessed into the base  28  of the first part  1 , together with the collar  32 . The keeper  40  is biased into engagement with the collar  32  by a spring  41  or any other form of suitable biasing means, to prevent rotation of the collar  32 . To release the collar  32 , the actuator is pressed, to move the keeper  40  out of engagement with the collar  32  and into a receiving space  42 . 
         [0055]    The collar  32  is fitted onto the flats  33  of the bolt  34  and when the keeper  40  is disengaged, the collar  32  is free to rotate with the bolt  34  to allow for screw threaded height adjustment of the bolt  34  in the passage  6  in the raised section  5 . When the actuator  31  is released, the collar  32  is again locked against rotation, in order to also prevent the bolt  34  from rotating, which secures the bolt  34  from unintended height adjustment. 
         [0056]      FIGS. 10 to 12  are bottom views of the pivot block  10 , where each of the shaft  19 , fastener  22 , actuator  31  and passage  6  are clearly shown as being accessible, to allow for adjustment and locking of the pivot block  10  through the base  28 ,  37  of each part  1 ,  2 . 
         [0057]      FIGS. 13 and 14  show a track  42  in which the pivot block  10  is to be mounted, as well as a dress plate  43 . The pivot block  10  has two mounting sites  44  that receive connectors  45  to anchor the pivot block  10  though holes  46  in the track  42 . 
         [0058]      FIGS. 15 and 16  show the pivot block  10  installed at an end of the track  42 . The connectors  45  are screwed through the holes  46  in the track  42  and into the second part  2  so that the grip  34  of each side flange  6  clamps onto portions  47  of the track  42  with corresponding profiles. The first part  1  can then be adjusted relative to the second part  2 , in the manner described above. Once the first part  1  is adjusted accordingly and fixed in place by the fastener  22 , the dress plate  43  is simply snap fit onto the track  42  (and/or fixed to first part by fastener) to hide the pivot block  10  from view, in order to provide a neat aesthetic. The dress plate  43  includes an elongate slot  44  that accommodates various positions of the bolt (not shown), resulting from adjustment of the first part  1 . If the first part  1  needs to be further adjusted, the dress plate  43  is removed, the fastener  22  released and the cam mechanism  39  engaged to reposition the first part  1  before fixing the position again by engaging the fastener  22 . 
         [0059]    Lastly,  FIG. 17  shows an alternative dress plate  48  that, instead of being snap fit or clipped in place, is attached by a fastener  49  pre-assembled and held in by a fibre washer  50 , the fastener  49  being received into a mating hole  51  in the second part  2  of the pivot block  10  (see  FIG. 13 ). 
       LIST OF PARTS 
       [0000]    
       
           1 . First part 
           2 . Second part 
           3 . Body 
           4 . Side flange 
           5 . Raised section 
           6 . Passage 
           7 . Threading 
           8 . Slide 
           9 . Slot 
           10 . Pivot block 
           11 . Shoulder 
           12 . Lock nut 
           13 . Body 
           14 . Side flange 
           15 . Channel 
           16 . Cam 
           17 . Cover plate 
           18 . Boss 
           19 . Shaft 
           20 . Aperture 
           21 . Opening 
           22 . Fastener 
           23 . Opening 
           24 . Top 
           25 . Recess 
           26 . Lateral slot 
           27 . Follower 
           28 . Base 
           29 . Cover plate 
           30 . Lock mechanism 
           31 . Actuator 
           32 . Aperture 
           33 . Flats 
           34 . Bolt 
           35 . Gap 
           36 . Grip 
           37 . Base 
           38 . Grip 
           39 . Cam mechanism 
           40 . Keeper 
           41 . Spring 
           42 . Track 
           43 . Dress plate 
           44 . Mounting sites 
           45 . Connectors 
           46 . Holes 
           47 . Portions 
           48 . Dress Plate 
           49 . Fastener 
           50 . Washer 
           51 . Mating Hole