Patent ID: 7117637

Claim:
A panel guide and impact separation system for a sliding door adapted to open and close an opening, the opening having an upper and lower extend, the panel guide and impact separation system comprising: a guide adapted to be mounted to a mounting surface located between the upper and lower extent; a guide follower disposed in operable engagement with the guide, wherein the guide follower is adapted to translate along at least a portion of the guide; an elongate beam having a first and second end, the first end of the elongate beam being connected to the guide follower and the second end of the elongate beam being attachable to a door panel and adapted to extend generally horizontally along at least a portion of a vertical plane of a door panel; and, a torsion spring disposed in cooperative engagement with the first end of the elongate beam and with the guide follower, wherein the torsion spring biases the guide follower into engagement with the guide such that the guide follower is adapted to disengage the guide upon application of a force sufficient to overcome the force applied by the torsion spring.