AU2007231870A1 - Roller Assembly - Google Patents

Description

08/11 2007 THU 11:26 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA R003/016 P/00/01i Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

o Patents Act 1990 00 00 o ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application No.

Lodged: Invention Title: 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: ARCS-167846 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:31 Date 2007-11-08

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08/11 2007 THU 11:27 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA 004/016

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0 0 ROLLER ASSEMBLY FIELD OF INVENTION z The present invention relates to the field of roller assemblies.

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

00 BACKGROUND ART c The discussion throughout this specification comes about due to the realization of the inventors and/or the identification of certain prior art problems by the inventors.

Ensuring that a door or window 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 a 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 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 back into contact with the track of the roller assembly.

Thus, positioning a 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.

Furthermore, in large doors suitable for commercial or industrial use where large loads are experienced, a number of problems may exist. For example, rollers made from steel (preferably stainless steel) may be chosen instead of other plastic materials to take the greater loads, however, such steel wheels may cause wear to aluminium door frames and take off paint, etc. Steel wheels are also more costly than other materials. Larger doors may also require more roller assemblies to share the load, which also adds to the cost. It is also considered that larger wheel diameters may be required to address larger loads on doors. If larger wheels or rollers are used, it is often the case that wheel bearings and COMS ID No: ARCS-167846 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:31 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 THU 11:27 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA 005/016 2

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0 other wheel components may need to be replaced along with the wheel when changing wheel size.

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Z Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this O 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 0 before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein.

0O SUMMARY OF INVENTION Ci An object of the present invention is to overcome or alleviate at least one o 10 disadvantage associated with the prior art, or at least provide the public with a ci useful choice.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a roller assembly comprising: first and second spaced apart and substantially parallel elements, each element adapted to receive at least one bearing means at least partially within each element; at least one roller comprising a surface for running along a track and further adapted to engage the bearing means wherein the at least one bearing means defines an outer bearing raceway for supporting the at least one roller.

Preferably, the at least one bearing means comprises: a first bearing surface for engagement with a surface of an element; a second bearing surface for engagement with the at least one roller; and at least one bearing disposed between the first and second bearing surfaces where the first and second bearing surfaces may be adapted for movement relative to each other.

The or each at least one bearing means is preferably sealed.

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.

In essence, the present invention comes about due to the realisation that by utilizing a bearing such as a sealed bearing within the body of the roller assembly, the roller assembly is adapted to carry substantially increased weight, and a wheel/roller having an improved designed may be used, the wheel being either of a smaller diameter and/or being substantially of plastics and/or nylon construction. This comes about due to the realization that by utilizing a bearing, COMS ID No: ARCS-167846 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:31 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 THU 11:27 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA a006/016 03 o such as a twin bearing and I or including seals, the roller may be able to be produced in plastic or steel and also to operate at relatively increased loads and 0 z reduced operating forces.

00 The present invention has been found to result in a number of advantages, 0 5 such as: Less force required to start the movement 0 Less force required for continued movement 00

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Able to withstander relatively heavier loads c Relatively smaller profile can be used for a roller assembly compared to O 10 prior art assemblies

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S* Materials may be chosen to reduce wear and tear of the roller assembly as well as along running tracks.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred 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 apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further 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 limiting to the scope of the present invention, and in which: Figure 1 is a technical drawing of the roller assembly according to a preferred embodiment, in which Figure l a is a front view of a roller assembly according to a preferred embodiment; Figure 1 b is a side view of the roller assembly shown in Figure 1 a; Figure 1 c is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A of Figure l b.

COMS ID No: ARCS-167846 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:31 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 THU 11:28 FAX Snoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA Q007/016 4 DETAILED

DESCRIPTION

Referring to figures la to 1c, there is shown a roller assembly 10 according z to a preferred embodiment.

00 The roller assembly 10 comprises a first body element 1 and a second body element 2, which are generally spaced apart. The body elements, in a preferred embodiment may be substantially parallel with respect to each other. A -0 roller 6 is disposed between the first and second body elements. The roller is Spreferably formed of: a synthetic plastics material 0 Nylon Reinforced nylon Acetal Acetal reinforced Steel Any combination of the above however, if substantially larger weights are to be carried, steel may be chosen as a primary material.

Each element is adapted to accommodate a bearing means 3 as shown in figure lb and 1c. The bearing means comprises a first bearing surface 3a, a second bearing surface 3b and one or more bearings 4 disposed between the first and second bearing surfaces. Preferably the bearings comprise ball bearings and the bearing means itself comprises a ball bearing assembly. The first bearing surface 3a and the second bearing surface 3b are adapted for movement relative to each other. This is best shown in figure lb and indicated by the opposed arrows. In the arrangement as shown in figure 1, the first bearing surface 3a is operatively connected to the element 1 or 2 and is fixed thereto. The bearing surface 3b is therefore free to rotate relative to surface 3a.

The roller 6 is operatively connected or mounted to the second bearing surface 3b, preferably by way of mounting means in the form of an axle extending from a central point of the roller. The roller then has the benefit of having the bearing means, in particular the first bearing surface 3a as an outer bearing raceway and the second bearing surface 3b as an inner bearing raceway. The COMS ID No: ARCS-167846 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:31 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 THU 11:28 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA [a008/016 O bearing means 3 is preferably constructed of steel therefore it is capable of withstanding much higher loads than prior art arrangements that rely on either the 0 z roller or the roller assembly structure itself to bear the loads.

00 Bearing means 3 is provided in the form of twin externally mounted bearing devices. The bearing means 3 are externally mounted in the sense that they are disposed outside the longitudinal plane of the roller 6. In contrast to prior art systems, the bearing means 3 is used to define an outer bearing raceway instead 00 of the elements of the carriage or roller assembly itself. In this way more weight t'q Sor load may be carried or supported.

The bearing means 3 is preferably sealed to prevent contamination by dirt Sin the course of use. The bearing means 3 may also comprise Chrome steel bearings with Steel shields or Rubber seals, or Full Stainless steel bearings with stainless steel shield or rubber seals. This can greatly reduce the maintenance required for the door. By virtue of the use of a ball bearing assembly, it is possible to rely on a steel bearing means 3 to take greater weight while retaining the ability to use plastic (preferably nylon) rollers 6. Without the need to resort to steel rollers to sustain greater loads, it is possible to allow more wear in a nylon roller without detracting from the operation of the door. A larger diameter roller 6 may be chosen to take on greater load. Conversely, the diameter of the roller, and thus the overall size of the roller assembly, may be reduced to cope with the same weight (as compared to prior art roller assembly arrangements). For example, if the roller assembly is reduced in overall size, the roller assembly may be used in a number of new applications, such as glass doors with a relatively narrow trim at the bottom of the door (in which the roller assembly (one or more) may be provided).

Furthermore, the size or diameter of the roller 6 may be altered independently of the bearing means 3 without particularly affecting any of the bearing means 3. For example, there may be no need to reduce or increase bearings and other components of the roller 6. The use of a sealed ball bearing assembly for the bearing means 3 may allow the roller assembly 10 to attain a rating of around 50kg or more. With greater load ratings for each roller assembly it is also possible to reduce the number of roller assemblies required for supporting larger doors.

COMS ID No: ARCS-167846 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:31 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 THU 11:29 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA U009/016 6

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oWhile this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further 0 z modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or OO 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.

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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 0invention 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 within the spirit and scope of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the 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 equivalent structures. For example, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure 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 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: ARCS-167846 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:31 Date 2007-11-08

Claims (12)

1. A roller assembly comprising: first and second spaced apart body elements, each element adapted to receive at least one bearing means at least partially within each element; at least one roller comprising a surface for running along a track and further being adapted to engage the bearing means wherein the at least one bearing means defines an outer bearing raceway for supporting the at least one roller.

2. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one bearing means comprises: a first bearing surface for engagement with a surface of an element; a second bearing surface for engagement with the at least one roller; at least one bearing disposed between the first and second bearing surfaces.

3. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first bearing surfaces are adapted for movement relative to each other. and second

4. A roller assembly as claimed in claims 2 or 3 wherein the first bearing surface defines the outer bearing raceway. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims second bearing surface defines an inner bearing raceway.

6. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims bearing means is sealed.

7. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims bearing means comprises a sealed ball bearing assembly. 2 to 4 wherein the 1 to 5 wherein the 1 to 6 wherein the COMS ID No: ARCS-167846 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:31 Date 2007-11-08 08/11 2007 THU 11:30 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA Q011/016 8

8. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 further comprising mounting means for connecting the at least one roller to the first and second z elements. 00

9. A roller assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the mounting means Scomprises a respective axle element for the or each at least one roller. 00 A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the or C each at least one roller is disposed between the first and second elements. S11. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the bearing means is formed of a metal substantially comprising steel and or stainless steel.

12. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the or each at least one roller comprises a synthetic plastic material.

13. A roller assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the assembly is rated to carry loads equal to or greater than about 10kg, preferably

14. An assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. SCOMS ID No: ARCS-167846 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:31 Date 2007-11-08