Patent ID: 8020346

Claim:
A sliding door or window supporting system, comprising: a. a stationary frame having channeled top and bottom frame portions; b. said channeled bottom portion of said stationary frame having a track with one or more stationary track magnets having a common magnetic polarity pointing upwards; c. said sliding door or window system having a sliding portion comprising a sliding frame having top and bottom portions; d. said sliding door or window bottom portion having one or more bottom portion magnets having a common polarity that is identical to that of said one or more stationary track magnets, but pointing downwards; e. said one or more bottom portion magnets repelling said one or more stationary track magnets and supporting the weight of said sliding portion and creating an air gap between said track and said bottom of said sliding portion, and wherein one or more of said magnets is an electromagnet configured to be energized by a current that can be switched on and off; f. said sliding door or window stationary frame having a plurality of polymeric knobs contacting the sliding frame, preventing front to back displacement of the sliding frame; and whereby said sliding portion of the sliding door or window is displaced in the sliding direction with very little friction and is immune to degradation by debris accumulation, wear and mechanical damage and said sliding portion is securely locked in position while said current is turned off, wherein one or more of said magnets are electromagnets energized by flow of D.C. current through coils surrounding a soft magnetic core.