AU2007203108A1 - Roller Assembly - Google Patents

Description

04/07 2007 WED 10:13 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA Q003/024 P/00o/O Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application No.

Lodged: ROLLER ASSEMBLY The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04 04/07 2007 WED 10:13 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA I004/024 O2 SROLLER ASSEMBLY FIELD OF INVENTION

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The present invention relates to the field of roller assemblies.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to roller assemblies for sliding patio door frames, however it should be appreciated that 00 o the present invention is not limited to that use only. For example the present invention may find application in sash windows.

t' BACKGROUND ART The discussion throughout this specification comes about due to the realisation of the inventors and/or the identification of certain prior art problems by the inventors.

Ensuring that a patio door slides smoothly can be difficult especially given that there are a wide range of factors and issues that occur with different types of roller assemblies. For example, if the patio door is not level and is not positioned at an appropriate height then the roller assembly may not engage the track in the manner in which the roller assembly was designed. The roller assembly and door may consequently be difficult to move.

Further problems include the roller assembly ceasing to operate due to the weight of the door and other loadings. In addition to this, there is also the problem of the roller assembly coming apart while being removed from or being brought into contact with the track of the roller assembly.

Thus, positioning a patio door at a particular height while ensuring that the door is level and, at the same time, ensuring that the assembly does not jam, nor fall apart, can be problematic.

Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms a part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia or elsewhere on or before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein.

An object of the present invention is to overcome or alleviate at least one disadvantage associated with the prior art, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04 04/07 2007 WED 10:14 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys 44-. IP AUSTRALIA Q005/024 2 SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a roller

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assembly comprising: a first element and a second element adapted to be Creceived at least partially within the first element; at least one roller adapted to engage a surface; and mounting means for connecting the at least one roller to 00 the second element, the mounting means being fixed to the second element to fix the at least one roller to the second element.

SPreferably the mounting means comprises a respective axle element for the or each at least one roller, the or each axle element having a flange at each end to fix the respective roller to the second element.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a roller assembly comprising: a first element and a second element adapted to be received at least partially within the first element; at least one roller adapted to engage a surface; mounting means for connecting the at least one roller to the second element; and adjustment means adapted to adjust a height provided by the roller assembly by moving the second element with respect to the first element.

Preferably the adjustment means includes a first adjustment member and a second adjustment member, the first adjustment member being a slot and the second adjustment member being adapted to be received in the slot and slide therealong.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a roller assembly comprising: a first element and a second element coupled thereto; at least one roller connected to the second element; and a height adjustment element provided independent of the second element and adapted to act on the second element to move the at least one roller relative to the first element.

Preferably the height adjustment element comprises a screw element having a first end adapted to abut against the second element and to push the second element along the first element.

Other aspects and preferred aspects are disclosed in the specification and/or defined in the appended claims, forming a part of the description of the invention.

COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04 04/07 2007 WED 10:14 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA Z006/024 3 N Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood

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that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred O embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become 0 apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS SFurther disclosure, objects, advantages and aspects of the present application may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a roller assembly according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a further exploded perspective view of the roller assembly shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a technical drawing of the roller assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a roller assembly according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the roller assembly shown in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a technical drawing of the roller assembly shown in Figures 4 and DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a roller assembly 100 according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention.

The roller assembly 100 includes a first element 102 and a second element 104 adapted to be received at least partially within the first element 102. As shown in Figure 1 the first element 102 is rectangularly shaped to be received within a lowermost slot in an aluminum patio door frame.

COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04 04/07 2007 WED 10:15 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA Z007/024 4 The first element 102 includes two mounting holes 106 through which Z tapped fasteners can be threaded to secure the first element 102 and thus the roller assembly 100 in position on the patio door frame.

O With this arrangement the roller assembly includes two rollers 108 for engaging the track on the outer frame of a patio door. The rollers 108 have a 00 central depression along their circumference for engaging a projection on the track.

The two rollers 108 are connected to the second element 104 by mounting means 110 fixed to the second element so as to fix the two rollers 108 to the N 10 second element 104. The mounting means 110 is provided in the form of respective axle elements 112 for each of the two rollers 108. The two axle elements 112 each comprises a rivet 118 having a flange 114 at each end 116 to fix the corresponding roller 108 to the second element 104.

By having an axle element 112 having a flange 114 at each end 116, the roller assembly 100 is able to advantageously withstand forces transmitted through the first element 102 onto the rollers 108. This serves to increase the loading capacity of the roller assembly 100 and assists with ensuring that the roller assembly 100 is able to continue operation when subject to repetitive loading.

Adjustment means 120 is provided within the roller assembly 100 and includes a slot element 122 and a shaft element 124. The shaft element 124 is adapted to be received by the slot element 122 by extending therethrough. The adjustment means 120 allows the height 126 between the rollers 108 and the first element 102 to be changed by providing for the displacement of the second element 104 in a direction 127 both along and across the longitudinal extent of the first element 102, As shown in Figure 1 the slot element 122 is angled along and across the second element 104 and the longitudinal extent of both the roller assembly 100 and the first element 102. The angling of slot element 122 provides the element 122 with an adaptation configured to ensure that the second element 104 is displaced across the first element 102 as the second element 104 is displaced therealong.

COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04 04/07 2007 WED 10:15 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys 4-3. IP AUSTRALIA Q008/024 1~ SForces from the first element 102 will be transmitted through the shaft Z element 124 to the second element 104 and through to the rollers 108 to support the door. The shaft element 124 is provided as an axial shaft extending through O corresponding holes 128 provided in first element 102 so as to connect the first element 102 to the second element 104 through slot 122. As discussed the axial oO 0element 112 advantageously comprises rivets so as to advantageously increase the loading capacity of the roller assembly 100. The force is transferred from the Sshaft element 124 to the rivets which extend through holes 129 in the second element 124.

The rollers 108 are mounted on either side of the slot element 122 and the shaft element 124 which provides a pivot 132 for ensuring that both rollers 108 engage the track of the patio door frame. This is advantageous in the combination of the arrangement.

In a preferred embodiment, a clip or spacing element 137 may be provided in association with the shaft element 124. Preferably the spacing element 137 resides interior of the second element 104. The spacing element 137 alleviates movement, if any, of the walls of the first element 102 and I or the second element 104 toward the inside of the roller assembly. Such movement may occur under relatively extreme load pressures applied to the roller assembly.

The adjustment means 120 is adapted to adjust a height provided by the roller assembly 100 by moving the second element 104 with respect to the first element 102. This is achieved with a screw 134 and slot 136. The screw 134 is tightened to pull the second element 104 towards the slot 136 to prevent movement of the shaft 124 back along the slot 122. In this manner the shaft 124 while received in the slot element 122 is pulled along the slot element 102 and move the rollers 108 away from the first element 102 to increase the height 126 provided by the roller assembly 100. If the slot 122 were angled in an opposite direction the height 126 would decrease on tightening of the screw.

Referring to Figure 4 there is shown a roller assembly 300 according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. The roller assembly 300 includes a first element 302 and a second element 304 adapted to be received at least partially within the first element 302. There is a single roller 306 adapted to COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04 04/07 2007 WED 10:16 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA R009/024 6 C- engage a track and mounting means 308 connecting the roller 306 to the second Z element 304.

-As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the roller assembly 300 further includes O adjustment means 310 adapted to adjust a height 312provided by the roller assembly 300. This is achieved by moving the second element 304 with respect 00 to the first element 302 in the direction 313.

The adjustment means 310 includes a first adjustment member 314 and a second adjustment member 315. The first adjustment member 314 is provided in the form of a slot 316 and the second adjustment member 315 is provided in the S 10 form of a male element 318 that is adapted to be received in the slot 316 and slide therealong.

As shown in Figure 4 the slot 316 is provided in both lateral sides of the first element 302 with the male element 318 being provided at a first end 320 of the second element 304.

The adjustment means 310 further includes a guide arrangement 322 at adjacent an opposite end 324 of the second element 304. The guide arrangement 322 includes a first ramp member 326 forming part of the second element 304 and second ramp member 328 forming part of the first element 302.

The first and second ramp members 326, 328 are arranged to bear against one another to align the first and second elements 302, 304 when a load is placed on the first element 304. This occurs in use when the load of the door is placed on an upper surface 330 of the first element 304 with the first element screwed to the door at location 332 and clipped to the door using a clip element 334.

A screw member 336 and an abutment surface 338 are advantageously provided as a means for pushing the second element 304 to prevent movement of the second member 304 back along the slot 316, This allows for the screw member 336 to extend through a hole 339 sized to hold the screw member 336 to the first element 302. From this location the screw member 336 bears against the abutment surface 338 to push the male element 318 along the slot 316 in a downward direction to increase the height 312 provided by the roller assembly 300. The screw member 336 can, as a result, have a fixed lateral position relative to the first element 302.

COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04 04/07 2007 WED 10:16 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA Q010/024 :7 As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the first element 302 further includes a Zrecess 340 having a nut 342 therein. The nut 342 and recess 340 form part of a -passageway 344 through which the screw member 336 is received and laterally fixed in position. As such the screw member 336 upon tightening will move 5 laterally across the abutment surface 338 while being threaded through the nut 00 oO 342 held in the recess 340.

SIt will be apparent that there is provided a height adjustment element in the Nform of the screw member 336 provided independent of the second element 304 and adapted to act on the second element 304 to move the roller 306 relative to the first element 302. The shaft element 324 and the slot element 322 form guide means for guiding the second element 304 across and along the first element 302 whilst the screw member 336 acts on the second element 304. The guide means further includes the ramp member 326, 328 that slide against each to maintain the level of the second member and distribute forces between the ramp members 326, 328 and the slot 316 and male element 318.

One of the advantages of the slot 316 and the male element 318 is that the arrangement serves to hold the second element 304 to the first element 302 preventing the second element 304 and roller 306 falling out of the first element 302 when the patio door is removed from the track of the patio door frame or when the patio door is placed thereon.

While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04 04/07 2007 WED 10:17 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA Q011/024 b7 8 1 within the spirit and scope of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the Z specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. In the following claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but also 00 equivalent structures. For example, although a nail and a screw may not be c structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure N< wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface to secure wooden parts together, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw are equivalent structures.

"Comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof." Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04

Claims (29)

1. A roller assembly comprising: a first element and a second element adapted to be received at least partially within the first element; at least one roller adapted to engage a surface; and c mounting means for connecting the at least one roller to the second Selement, the mounting means being fixed to the second element to fix the at least one roller to the second element.

2. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mounting means comprises a respective axle element for the or each at least one roller, the or each axle element having a flange at each end to fix the respective roller to the second element.

3. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the or each axle element comprises a rivet.

4. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising adjustment means for adjusting the height between the at least one roller and the first element by displacing the second element in a direction both along and across the first element.

A roller assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the adjustment means includes a slot element and a shaft element, the shaft element being adapted to be received by the slot element.

6. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the slot element is angled with respect to the first and second elements to ensure that the second element is displaced across the first element as the second element is displaced therealong. COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04 04/07 2007 WED 10:17 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA Q013/024 O 1

7. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the slot element is Z provided in the second element and the shaft element extends therethrough to connect the first element to the second element.

8. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the slot is provided in 00 0the first element and the shaft element extends therethrough to connect the first c element to the second element. r--

9. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the at least one roller comprises at least two rollers mounted to the second element on either side of the slot element.

A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the at least one roller comprises a single roller.

11. A roller assembly comprising: a first element and a second element adapted to be received at least partially within the first element; at least one roller adapted to engage a surface; mounting means for connecting the at least one roller to the second element; and adjustment means adapted to adjust a height provided by the roller assembly by moving the second element with respect to the first element.

12. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the adjustment means includes a first adjustment member and a second adjustment member, the first adjustment member being a slot and the second adjustment member being adapted to be received in the slot and slide therealong.

13. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the slot is provided in the first element. COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04 04/07 2007 WED 10:18 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA R014/024 I 11

14. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein the second Zadjustment member is provided at a first end of the second element and a guide arrangement is provided adjacent an opposite end of the second element. 5

15. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein the guide arrangement 00 oO comprises a first ramp member forming part of the second element and second t' ramp member forming part of the first element, the ramp members being N configured to bear against one another to align the first and second elements.

16. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein the adjustment means includes a means for pushing the second element to prevent movement of the second element back along the slot.

17. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein the means for pushing includes a screw element laterally fixed in position relative to the first element.

18. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 17 wherein the mean for pushing extends through a hole having of a corresponding circular cross section.

19. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the slot is provided in the second element.

A roller assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the second member is provided between a first roller and a second roller of the at least one roller.

21. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein the adjustment means allows for the second element to pivot with respect to the first element.

22. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 20 or 21 wherein the adjustment means includes means for pulling the second member to prevent movement of the second member back along the slot. COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04 04/07 2007 WED 10:18 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA Q015/024 1 12 N

23. A roller assembly comprising: Z a first element and a second element coupled thereto; at least one roller connected to the second element; and Sa height adjustment element provided independent of the second element and adapted to act on the second element to move the at least one roller relative 00 to the first element.

24. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 23 wherein the height adjustment Selement comprises a screw element having a first end adapted to abut against the second element and push the second element along the first element.

A roller assembly as claimed in claim 22 or 23 including guide means for guiding the second element across and along the first element whilst the height adjustment element acts on the second element.

26. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 25 wherein the guide means includes a slot and a shaft element, the shaft element being adapted to be received in the slot.

27. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 25 wherein the guide means includes two inclined ramp elements adapted to slide against one another.

28. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 27 wherein first element includes a recess having a nut therein forming part of a passageway through which the height adjustment element is received and laterally fixed in position.

29. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 28, further comprising a spacing element proximate the first and or second element. An assembly as substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04 04/07 2007 WED 10:19 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA j01/2 R016/024 13 C131. A method as substantially described herein with reference to the Z accompanying drawings. 00 COMS ID No: SBMI-08022722 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:22 Date 2007-07-04