AU2013270512A1 - Stop for a door - Google Patents

Abstract

An assembly with stop for a door, window or the like and a method of mounting a stop 96 to a door window or the like. The door, window or the like is comprised of at least one metal section frame member. The assembly with stop includes a body ' and a stop 96. The body 1' is securely 5 receivable within the at least one metal section frame member. The stop 96 is securable to the body through a wall of the metal section frame member to transfer force on the stop 96 to the body 1'. i~ic) /q L 527'

Description

P/00/01Il Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Stop for a door The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 Stop for a Door Field of the invention The present invention relates to a stop for a door, window or the like. In particular, the invention relates to an assembly with stop. Most particularly, although not exclusively, the 5 invention relates to an assembly which can be used to mount a stop onto an aluminium extruded sliding door, by incorporating an existing door fitting into the assembly, such as the roller carriage. While the invention is described in connection with doors it may be equally applicable to windows and like panels. Background of the invention ) Aluminium framed, glass sliding doors are usually provided with stops, one per door, so that as each door slides to its fullest open extent, the stop abuts with the adjacent door and so on until all the doors have opened to their fullest extent. Typically, the stops are mounted on the bottom rail of each door. The bottom rail is generally comprised of an extruded aluminium section typically incorporating a downward facing channel with thin side walls. The stop is 5 mounted to one of the thin side walls of the bottom rail. Alternatively, the stop may be mounted to the top rail. Aluminium framed doors are generally quite heavy and this means that each stop undergoes considerable force as it strikes the adjacent door, this force being transferred to the thin aluminium wall. Because of the inherent weakness in the thin aluminium wall, the stop often 0 loosens or rips off, over time. Another issue associated with mounting of the doorstop is that often, the optimum location for mounting the doorstop is not available because it is occupied by a roller carriage. There are two possible solutions to this problem. The roller carriage may be made small enough to allow mounting of the stop in the optimum location. However this may limit the load capacity 5 of the roller carriage. Alternatively, the doorstop must be mounted in a position that is non optimum. However this prevents the door from opening its full extent relative to the adjacent door.

3 It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome or at least address some of the abovementioned difficulties. An alternative object is to provide the public with a useful choice. Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an 5 acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art. Summary of the invention In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an assembly with stop ) for a door, window or the like comprised of at least one metal section frame member, the assembly with stop including: a body securely receivable within the at least one metal section frame member; and a stop securable to the body through a wall of the metal section frame member to 5 transfer force on the stop to the body. Some type of fastening means is preferably provided to secure the stop to the body. This may be a separate component or a portion of the stop and/or body. For example, the stop or body may have mutually engageable portions. In a preferred form of the invention, the assembly includes a fastener which secures the stop to the body through said wall of the metal section. The 0 fastener may be a threaded member such as a screw or a bolt. Preferably the threaded member threads into the body or alternatively, a nut is mounted or provided on the body. For this purpose, the body may include a recess to receive the nut. Preferably, the recess is complementary in shape to the nut to prevent turning of the nut while the threaded member is being turned. 5 The assembly may be used with any of a variety of shapes of metal section. Preferably, the metal section is extruded and will therefore have a continuous cross-sectional shape. In a most preferred form, the metal section is extruded aluminium. The assembly may be used on the bottom rail of a door, window or like. However, the invention is not limited in its application to this location and may have use in the stiles (sides) or the head of the door, window or like.

4 The metal section with which the assembly is used may have a complex cross-sectional shape. Where the assembly is used in respect of the bottom rail, it is anticipated that the metal section will include a channel which is downwardly open. The body is receivable within this channel and may be secured into position at that location. In the case of the head, the metal 5 section preferably includes a channel which is open upwardly. Likewise in the case of stiles, the metal section preferably includes a channel which faces outwardly relative to the door. However, the invention may also be used with other sections such as a closed section e.g. a box section, which is cut to reveal an opening into which the body may be inserted. The body is preferably secured to the metal section, for example, by suitable fasteners. ) Preferably the body is secured to a base wall of the channel, because this is typically thicker and/or stronger than the side wall of the channel. For this purpose, the body may have suitable holes or other securement features, e.g. mounting lugs. The stop is preferably secured to the body through the side wall of the metal section. In this way, the stop is ultimately secured to the base wall of the channel section, through its connection with the body. Since the base wall is typically 5 stronger and/or thicker than the side wall of the metal section, this results in a mount for the stop which is able to withstand higher forces. The body may purely serve as a dedicated mounting for the stop. Alternatively, the body may possess its own function. For example, the body may serve as a roller carriage enabling sliding of the door, window or the like. The roller carriage will typically be located in the head or 0 bottom rail of the door, window or the like. Alternatively, the body may serve as a height adjustment means, for example for non-moveable panels. In a preferred form of the invention where the body is in the form of a roller carriage, preferably the roller carriage comprises a housing and at least one moveable component within which provides for wheel height adjustment. Preferably the housing has opposite side walls and !5 the stop is secured to/through both side walls of the housing. The moveable component within the housing is preferably shaped to enable independent operation of the moveable component and securement of the stop to/through both side walls. For this reason, at least one of the moveable components may include a recess, cut-out or hole to facilitate passage of the fastening means which mounts the stop to the body. In a most preferred form of the invention, the 0 moveable component comprises the abutment member, otherwise known as a 'wedge'.

5 The stop may be a unitary (one-piece) component. Alternatively, the stop may include a stop mounting portion and a resilient stop portion which is fitted to the stop mounting portion. The resilient stop portion may fit with the mounting portion by means of a snap fitting or similar non-tool connection. Preferably, when the resilient stop portion is fitted with the mounting 5 portion, the resilient stop portion hides the means of securing the mounting portion to the body. The mounting of the stop to the body may include an anti-rotation feature. This may comprise a second fastener to prevent rotation of the stop. Alternatively, the body and the mounting portion may have location features which are complementary in shape to prevent relative rotation. ) Preferably the stop will be disposed so as to be proud of the metal section and to abut against the adjacent panel when the door, window or the like has opened to its full extent. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for mounting a stop to a door, window or the like comprised of at least one metal section frame member, the method including: 5 inserting a body into the at least one metal section frame member, and securing the body to the at least one metal section frame member; and securing a stop to the body through a wall of the metal section frame member to transfer force on the stop to the body. As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and 0 variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps. It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative 5 aspects of the invention. Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6 Brief description of the drawings In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to Figures 17 to 19 only. Figures 1 to 16 from our earlier international patent application WO 2011/100788 are included as they are useful to 5 explain the operation of the adjustable carriage. Figure 1 shows an axonometric exploded view of an adjustable carriage in a form with or without wheels; Figure 2 shows an axonometric view of a longitudinal cross section taken through the assembled wheeled carriage of Figure 1; ) Figure 3 shows the cross section of Figure 2 in elevation with the wheels retracted; Figure 4 shows the cross section of Figure 2 in elevation with the wheels extended; Figure 5 shows an axonometric view of the elongate housing of Figure 1; Figure 6 shows an underneath axonometric view of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a longitudinal elevational cross section of Figure 5; 5 Figure 8 shows a cross section B-B of Figure 7; Figure 9 shows an axonometric view of an abutment member; Figure 10 shows an axonometric view of the abutment member of Figure 9 rotated 900; Figure 11 shows an elevational view of the abutment member of Figure 9; Figure 12 shows the section D-D taken through Figure 11; 0 Figure 13 shows an axonometric view of the slidable member; Figure 14 shows an upside down axonometric view of Figure 13; Figure 15 shows a longitudinal cross section taken through Figure 13; Figure 16 shown the cross section C-C taken through Figure 16; Figure 17 shows an exploded view of an alternative adjustable roller carriage with stop 5 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 7 Figure 18 shows a longitudinal cross section taken through the housing of Figure 17; and Figure 19 shows a longitudinal cross section taken through the partially assembled carriage of Figure 17. Detailed description of the drawings The various elements identified by numerals in the drawings are listed in the following integer list. 1.1 Integer List 1 Adjustable carriage 3 Elongate housing 5 Slidable member 9 Abutment member 11 Bolt 13 Nut 15 Restraining plate 17 Wheel 19 Alternative slidable member 21 Flat base 23 Cavity 25 Bottom edge 0 27 Slot 29 Ramped protrusion 31 Bolt hole 32 Opening 33 Nut cavity 5 35 Moulding cavity 36 Moulding cavity 37 Restraining plate cavity 39 Narrow thread free zone 41 Ramped male track 8 43 Ramped female track 45 Axle recess 47 Axle 51 Recess 5 52 Protruding edge 53 Stop 55 Recess 57 Ramped male track 88 Assembly with stop ) 90 Retaining pins 92 Aligned holes 94 housing fasteners 96 stop 98 stop mounting portion 5 100 resilient stop portion 102 housing recess 104 housing recess 106 nut 108 fastener 0 110 additional fastener 112 end aperture 114 oblique aperture 116 stem portion 118 blocky end portion !5 120 cut-out Referring to Figures 1 to 16, there is shown an adjustable carriage assembly 1 and its components. The adjustable carriage assembly comprises an elongate housing 3. The elongate housing may be manufactured by any suitable manufacturing process such as injection moulding, casting, etc although an injection moulded plastic is preferred. The housing may be shaped so 0 that it can be readily slotted into an aluminium extrusion or similar which may typically be fitted underneath the bottom edge of a door panel, or window panel or the like (not shown).

9 The elongate housing is dimensioned so that it is formed with an open bottom cavity 23 which is shaped to snugly receive the two slidable members 5 and abutment member 9. The interior sides of the cavity 23 are flat and parallel as are the exterior sides of the abutment member and two slidable members. The dimensions are such that the abutment member and slidable members when fitted within the cavity 23 are longitudinally slidable within the cavity. A bolt 11 is arranged to fit through the opening 32 provided at one end of the cavity and also through the bolt hole 31 formed in the abutment member 9. A nut 13 is slidable into the nut cavity 33 formed at one end of the abutment member 9 for the purpose of adjusting the location of the abutment member as will become apparent. Similarly, a restraining plate 15 resembling a circlip 15 is slidable into the restraining plate cavity 37 so that it fits over the narrow thread-free zone 39 of the bolt to hold it in position when the components of the adjustable carriage are assembled and throughout adjustment of the bolt 11. Wheels 17 provided with axles 47 are held in each of the slidable members by being friction fitted into the axle recesses 45. The natural resilience of plastics material from which the slidable members may be moulded allows the axles to be snap fitted into the top of these recesses to hold them in place and allow them to rotate freely. It is noted that Figure 1 shows alternative slidable members 19 without wheels whose purpose will be described in more detail hereinafter. Each of these slidable members 19 have a flat base 0 21. Opposed sides of the elongate housing 3 are provided with slots 27 arranged to receive the ramped protrusions 29 provided on opposite sides of the abutment member. This serves to hold the abutment member within the cavity 23 after it has been pushed home into the cavity through the opening formed at the bottom edge 25 of the elongate housing. 5 It is noted that the elongate housing 3 is formed with moulding cavities 35 and 36 which serve no purpose other than to reduce use of moulding material such as plastic in the moulding process. Similar cavities are also formed in the slidable and abutment members. The elongate housing may also incorporate extensions or specific profiles at one or both ends to facilitate mounting.

10 The abutment member is provided with a male track 41 formed as a ramp by virtue of the fact that it runs at an angle to the vertical. The ramped male track 41 is slidable within the ramped female track 43 formed on the slidable member 5, the ramped male track having a generally T-shaped configuration which slides within the generally T-shaped hollow formed as the ramped female track 43. Similarly, an internal ramped male track 57 is provided in the cavity 23 at one end of the cavity, the ramped male track 57 being slidable within the ramped female track 43 of the other of the two slidable members. The slidable members have a protruding edge 52 on an end face, with a generally triangular shaped recess 51 defined by the protruding edge. The arrangement is such that protruding edges of the two slidable members may co-operate to hold the two slidable members in abutment with each other whilst allowing relative vertical movement between the two. A stop 53 which can move up and down in the recess 55 serves to limit the extent of relative vertical movement between the two slidable members 5. To assemble the adjustable carriage, the two slidable members with wheels in place are abutted against each other with their protruding edges overlapped and the ramped male track of the abutment member is slid into the ramped female track of one of the slidable members. This assembly of three components is then pushed up into the cavity 23 in such a way that the ramped female track 43 of the other of the slidable members co-operates with the ramped male track 57 0 provided internally of the elongate housing. It is noted that the nut 13 will have been placed into the nut cavity 33 prior to the assembly of the two slidable members and abutment member being pushed up into the cavity 23. As the assembly is pushed into the cavity, the ramped protrusions 29 on either side of the abutment member co-operate with the slots 27 on either side of the elongate housing to retain the 5 abutment member in the cavity in connection with the slidable member 5. The height of the slidable members 5 within the cavity can be adjusted by turning the bolt 11 to move the abutment member longitudinally within the cavity. In particular, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, when the abutment member moves leftward (in the orientation of the figures), then the gap between the two male ramped tracks 41 and 57 is reduced, with the result that the slidable 0 members 5 move outwardly of the cavity 23 as shown in Figure 4.

11 Typically, the adjustable carriage will be mounted within an extrusion or a recess provided at the bottom of a sliding panel or door. After it has been put in place and the wheels are arranged on a track on the floor, the bolt 11 is adjusted to ensure the slidable members and hence the associated wheels 17 are at an appropriate level to provide a correct fit. Even if the track on which the 5 wheels run happens to be at a slight angle with respect to the bottom of the panel, the limited relative vertical movement between the two slidable members 5 allows slight variations in the angle of the track to be accommodated. This limited vertical movement between the two slidable members is permitted by the engagement between protruding edges 52 and limited by the stop 53 within recess 55. ) Whilst the description in relation to Figures 1 to 16 has dealt largely with an adjustable carriage having wheels, it is to be appreciated that the carriage may be provided without wheels if the slidable members 5 are replaced by the alternative slidable members 19. As these have a flat bottom edge 21, they may be used in place of the wheeled slidable members 5 in circumstances where the height of a panel put in place needs to be adjusted without any need for the panel to be 5 moved. The centre of the base may incorporate a channel or similar to fit over a track. It should also be appreciated that the adjustable carriage can be used at top, bottom or sides of panels to provide slidable movement or to fix the panels in place depending on the circumstances. The particular embodiment of the invention described with reference to Figures 1 to 16 deals 0 with an arrangement in which the head of the bolt used to adjust the height of the carriage remains fixed in position relative to the end of the elongate housing as the circlip 15 prevents movement of the bolt. However, variations are permissible in which the head of the adjustment bolt is moveable. (See our international patent application WO 2011/100788, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.) !5 Figures 17 to 19 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention relying on many of the concepts of the roller carriage as described in Figures 1 to 16. Therefore, many parts in the roller carriage 1' are similar in many respects to the features described in the roller carriage 1. Accordingly, like numerals represent like parts with the inclusion of the prime symbol (') to indicate where the parts have been adapted for the inventive embodiment. 0 The roller carriage l' operates in the same fashion as described for the roller carriage 1 in Figures 1 to 16. The bolt 11' is rotated in order to move the abutment member 9' longitudinally in the 12 housing 3'. In particular, the bolt 11' engages with the nut 13' received within the nut cavity 33'. The nut 13' is prevented from turning within the nut cavity 33'. Additionally, the head of the bolt 11' is restrained from longitudinal movement. Accordingly, turning the bolt 11' translates to longitudinal movement of the abutment member 9'. As with the roller carriage described above i in Figures 1 to 16, this adjusts the gap between the ramped male tracks 41' and 57' (57' not shown), which brings about height adjustment of the slidable members 5'. Additionally, as with the previous embodiment, the two slidable members 5' may adjust vertically relative to one another to accommodate an unlevel track. The head of the bolt 11' is retained longitudinally by two retaining pins 90. Each retaining pin ) 90 is received within aligned holes 92 in opposite side walls of the housing 3'. The head of the bolt 11' is retained between the retaining pins 90 and the end wall of the housing 3'. To assemble the bolt 11' with the housing 3', the bolt 11' is initially positioned inside the end wall of the housing 3' and then the retaining pins 90 are inserted through the corresponding aligned holes to hold the head of the bolt 11' in position as shown in Figure 19. 5 The roller carriage is assembled in the same manner as described above in connection with Figures 1 to 16. The assembled roller carriage 1' is inserted into the metal section frame member of the door. This may be the bottom or top rail of the door. Typically, this includes a channel which opens outwardly (downwardly in the case of the bottom rail and upwardly in the case of the top rail). The housing 3' is secured to the base of this channel section which is generally 0 thicker and stronger than the side walls of the channel. The housing 3' is secured by means of the housing fasteners 94. Thus, the components of the roller carriage 1' are received and secured within the metal section frame member. The roller carriage 1' defines the body to which the stop 96 is secured. The stop 96 is disposed on the outside of one of the side walls of the channel and secured through said 5 side wall to the roller carriage 1', in particular to the housing 3'. The channel is not shown for clarity purposes. The stop 96 includes a stop mounting portion 98 and a resilient stop portion 100. The side wall of the housing 3' has two recesses 102, 104 on opposite sides thereof. A first recess 102 receives a complementary projection (not shown) of the stop mounting portion 98. 0 Housing recess 104 receives a nut 106 which is complementary in shape. The nut 106 is 13 assembled with the housing 3' prior to insertion into the channel section. The stop mounting portion 98 is secured to the housing 3' by means of fastener 108. The complementary shape of the recess 104 prevents the nut 106 from turning as the fastener 108 is rotated. For clarity reasons, the side wall of the channel section is not illustrated. However, it will be appreciated 5 that a hole will be cut into this side wall to enable passage of the fastener 108 and the locating portion (not shown) of the mounting portion 98 which locates in the housing recess 102. Additionally, the mounting portion 98 may be secured to the housing 3' by means of an additional fastener 110. This additional fastener 110 merely taps into the side wall of the housing 3' and is intended to prevent the mounting portion 98 from rotating. ) The mounting portion 98 is shaped as an essentially hollow body with an end aperture 112 and an oblique aperture 114. The resilient stop portion 100 is comprised of a resilient material such as rubber or other suitable plastics material and is essentially a solid member which has a stem portion 116 and a blocky end portion 118. The stem portion 116 is inserted into the end aperture 112. The free end of the stem portion 116 has a barbed edge which engages over the edge of the 5 oblique aperture 114 to retain the resilient stop portion within the mounting portion 98. The stem portion 116 covers the fastener 108, while the blocky end portion 118 covers the additional fastener 110. As already explained, the fastener 108 passes through the housing 3' from one side to the other. In order to avoid interference with the operation of the roller carriage 1', the abutment member 9' 0 is provided with a cut-out 120 in its top surface. This cut out does not extend the full length of the abutment member 9' and it stops short of the ramped male track 41. The abutment member 9' may therefore translate longitudinally within the housing 3' without fouling with the fastener 108. It will be understood that the location of the cut-out 120 could vary. For example, it could be 5 located in the bottom of the abutment member. Alternatively, it may not be in the form of a cut out but instead, in the form of a through-slot centrally located of the abutment member 9'. The cut-out or recess may therefore be of any shape, provided it enables the abutment member to translate longitudinally. Additionally, the cut-out/recess could be located in one of the sliding members 5'. However, this 30 is not ideal as it would affect the working range of height movement of the sliding members 5'.

14 There also may be alternative arrangements of sliding members. For example, there may be two pairs of sliding members spaced by a wedge member. The cut out/recess could be disposed within said wedge member. In another alternative form of the roller carriage, there may be two or more sliding members, 5 each having a single wheel, with wedge members located between each sliding member. The cut out/recess may be located within any of these one or more wedge members. The present invention may also have application to the non-wheeled carriage discussed in connection with Figure 1. The invention may have application to any door fitting received in a rail of the door frame. ) Whilst the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. An assembly with stop for a door, window or the like comprised of at least one metal section frame member, the assembly with stop including: a body securely receivable within the at least one metal section frame member; 5 and a stop securable to the body through a wall of the metal section frame member to transfer force on the stop to the body.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 further including a fastener for securing the stop to the body through said wall of the metal section frame member.

) 3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fastener is a threaded member which threads with a nut and the body includes a recess to receive the nut, said the recess being complementary in shape to the nut to prevent turning of the nut while the threaded member is being turned.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim any one of the preceding claims wherein the body has 5 top and bottom walls and opposite side walls, there being suitable holes or other securement features to facilitate securement of the body to a base wall of a channel which defines the metal section frame member, with the top or bottom wall of the body facing the base wall of the channel.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the body is adapted to facilitate mounting of .0 the stop through both side walls of the body.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim any one of the preceding claims wherein the body serves as a dedicated mounting for the stop.

7. The assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the body serves as a height adjustment means for non-moveable panels. !5

8. The assembly as claimed in any one of claims I to 5 wherein the body serves as a roller carriage enabling sliding of the door, window or the like. 16

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the roller carriage comprises a housing and at least one moveable component within, which provides for wheel height adjustment.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 9 when dependent on claim 5 wherein said at least one moveable component is shaped to enable independent height-adjustable operation thereof and i securement of the stop to/through both side walls of the housing.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein a fastener is provided to secure the stop to/through both side walls of the housing and said at least one moveable component includes a recess, cut-out or hole to facilitate passage of the fastening means between both side walls.

12. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the stop includes a ) stop mounting portion and a resilient stop portion which is fitted to the stop mounting portion.

13. The assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the resilient stop portion fits with the mounting portion by means of a snap fitting or similar non-tool connection.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the resilient stop portion hides the means of securing the mounting portion to the body. 5

15. A method for mounting a stop to a door, window or the like comprised of at least one metal section frame member, the method including: inserting a body into the at least one metal section frame member, and securing the body to the at least one metal section frame member; and securing a stop to the body through a wall of the metal section frame member to 0 transfer force on the stop to the body.