AU2014208204A1

AU2014208204A1 - A roller assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2014208204A1
Application number: AU2014208204A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Brian Alchin
Original assignee: Azuma Design Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Azuma Design Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2013-08-09
Filing date: 2014-07-30
Publication date: 2015-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2034-07-30
Also published as: AU2014208204B2

Abstract

A ROLLER ASSEMBLY A roller assembly (10) including a base (11) that is intended to be attached to the panel of a sliding door or window. The base (11) includes a housing (12) that is hollow so as to provide a cavity (13). Slidably located in the cavity (13) is a carriage (22) that can be retained in a retracted position by means of a catch (43) but released to be moved, by a spring (33), to an extended position.

Description

1 A ROLLER ASSEMBLY FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to roller assemblies for sliding doors and windows, and more particularly but not exclusively to sliding doors. BACKGROUND [0002] Sliding doors and windows and include a frame that supports a sliding panel. Typically roller assemblies are attached to the panel and engage the frame so as to support and/or guide the panel in its linear movement relative to the frame. [0003] Roller assemblies for sliding doors and windows are described in the specifications of Australian Patents 535,749 and 573,943. [0004] A disadvantage of known roller assemblies is that different assemblies are used for the top and bottom edges of the panel. This increases the cost of the roller assemblies. [0005] A further disadvantage of known roller assemblies is that it is not uncommon for tradesmen to employ a roller assembly intended for the upper edges of the panel on a lower edge. Roller assemblies are intended to be attached to an upper edge of the panel including a spring that urges the roller to an extended position. When the roller assembly is to be replaced or serviced, it obviously has to be removed. Where the roller is urged by a spring to the extended position, the roller assembly is difficult to remove. OBJECT [0006] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

2 SUMMARY [0007] There is disclosed herein a roller assembly for a sliding door or window having a frame with a movable panel mounted on the frame, said assembly including: a base to be fixed to the panel; a carriage engaged with the base and movable relative thereto between a retracted position and an extended position; a roller attached to the carriage and rotatable about an axis that is intended to be generally transverse relative to the panel and to engage the frame so that the panel is at least partly guided by the roller assembly; and a catch operatively associated with the carriage and base to retain the carriage in the retracted position but operable to release the carriage for movement to the extended position. [0008] Preferably, the carriage is urged to move to the extended position. [0009] Preferably, the assembly includes a spring extending between the carriage and base to urge the carriage to the extended position. [0010] Preferably, said carriage includes a cavity within which said spring is located. [0011] Preferably, said base is hollow, and said carriage is received within the base. [0012] Preferably, said base has surfaces that slidably engage the carriage to restrain the carriage to move in a predetermined direction. [0013] Preferably, said direction is generally vertical. [0014] Preferably, the carriage moves relative to the base along a generally linear path. [0015] Preferably, said path is generally vertical when the assembly is attached to the panel. [0016] Preferably, said catch is a catch member, the catch member being movable between a first position extending between the carriage and base to retain the carriage in a retracted position, and a second position releasing the carriage for movement relative to the base.

3 [0017] Preferably, said catch is resiliently urged to the first position. [0018] Preferably, said catch is an elongated member having an end extremity that is movable between the first and second positions of the catch. [0019] Preferably, said catch is integrally formed with said carriage, so that said member extends generally parallel to said direction. [0020] Preferably, the base has an aperture engaged by said end extremity when the catch is in the first position. [0021] Preferably, said carriage has edge portions extending generally parallel to said direction, with said member being formed with one of said edge portions. [0022] Preferably, the roller assembly includes an adjustment mechanism to determine a maximum retracted position of the carriage. [0023] Preferably, said adjustment mechanism includes a ramp surface on said carriage, and an adjustment member moved relative to said ramp surface to limit movement of the carriage to determine the maximum retracted position. [0024] Preferably, said adjustment mechanism includes a threaded member mounted in the base, and a wedge member mounted on the threaded member and moved therealong by angular movement of the threaded member, with the wedge member engaged with said surface to determine said maximum retracted position. [0025] Preferably, said threaded member extends generally transverse of said direction. [0026] Preferably, said roller is rotatably supported by an axle, with said axle extending beyond said carriage and engaged with said base to retain the roller attached to the base. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0027] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying wherein: 4 [0028] Figure 1 is a schematic isometric parts exploded view of a roller assembly for a sliding door or window; [0029] Figure 2 is a further parts exploded isometric view of the roller assembly of Figure 1; and [0030] Figure 3 is a schematic isometric view of the roller assembly of Figures 1 and 2: DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0031] In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a roller assembly 10. The roller assembly 10 includes a base 11 that is intended to be attached to the panel of the sliding door or window. The base 11 includes a housing 12 that is hollow so as to provide a cavity 13. [0032] The cavity 13 is located between a pair of side walls 14 and arcuate edge portions 15. One end of the cavity 13 is at least partly closed by end walls 16. Extending outwardly from the edge portions 15 are mounting flanges 17 having apertures 18 through which threaded fasteners pass and via which the assembly 10 is fixed to the sliding door or window panel. [0033] Preferably, the base 11 is provided with a series of barbs 19 that engage the frame of the sliding panel to aid in securely locating the assembly 10 with respect to the panel. [0034] Each of the side walls 14 is provided with an elongated aperture 20. The apertures 20 are intended to be generally vertically oriented when the assembly 10 is attached to the panel. [0035] Located between the end walls 16 is an aperture 21. [0036] Slidably mounted in the cavity 13 is a carriage 22. The carriage 22 includes a pair of side walls 23 and end portions 24 that generally surround a cavity 25. Supported by the side walls 23 is a roller 26 that projects at least partly into the cavity 25. The roller 26 is supported by an axle 30 having end extremities 31. The axle 30 provides the roller 26 with a rotational axis 29. The axis 29 extends generally transverse relative to the sliding panel. [0037] The side walls 23 each have an aperture 27 with an end portion within which the extremities 31 are snap engaged so that the axle 30 is fixed to the carriage 22.

5 [0038] The carriage 22 as mentioned previously is mounted in the cavity 13. In particular the carriage 22 is movable in the direction 32 along a generally linear path between a retracted position at which the carriage 22 is at least substantially located in the cavity 13 and an extended position at which the carriage 22 is at an extended position so as to locate the roller 26 at a position at which it will engage the frame. [0039] The end extremities 31 also project into the slots 20 so that the carriage 22 is retained in the cavity 13. [0040] The carriage 22 is urged from the retracted position to the extended position by means of a spring 33. The spring 33 is located in a spring chamber 34 of the carriage 32, the chamber 34 having a bottom wall 47 against which the spring 33 is compressed. The spring 33 is also compressed against one of the end walls 16. [0041] The roller assembly 10 is also provided with an adjustment mechanism 35 that defines a maximum retracted position of the carriage 22. The mechanism 35 includes a ramp surface 36 attached to or formed integrally with the carriage 22. Extending between the side walls 14 is a threaded adjustment member 48 that has end projections 37 rotatably supported in apertures 38 of the side walls 14. Threadably engaged with the adjustment member 48 is a wedge (nut) 39 having a ramp surface 40. The wedge 39 has a threaded aperture 41 engaged with the threaded member 36. The member 48, by use of a screw driver, is rotated about the axis 42 to cause the wedge 36 to move along the member 48. Engagement of the surface 40 with the surface 36 causes movement of the carriage 22 in the direction 32. The axis 42 is generally parallel to the axis 29, and generally perpendicular to the direction 32 and generally transverse of the sliding panel. [0042] The roller assembly 10 also includes a catch 43. The catch 43 is operable to retain the carriage 22 in the retracted position. [0043] In this embodiment, the catch 43 is an elongated flexible member 44 having a step 45 at its end extremity. The member 44 may be attached to or integrally formed with the carriage 22. [0044] The member 44 is preferably formed in one of the edge portions 14.

6 [0045] The base 11 is provided with an aperture 46 in an edge portion 15 into which the step 45 can project. [0046] In operation of the catch 43, when the carriage 22 is moved to a retracted position, the step 45 projects into the aperture 46 to engage a surface of the base 11 to retain the carriage 22 in a retracted position. The member 44 is resiliently deformed so as to urge the step 45 into the aperture 46. Preferably, the member 44 is longitudinally elongated in a direction parallel to the direction 32. When the step 45 is located in the aperture 46, the spring 33 is compressed. The carriage 22 is released by a user pressing the step 45 inward so as to no longer project into the aperture 46. The carriage 22 is then free to move. [0047] The member 44 by resilient deformation moves in a plane extending generally perpendicular to the axes 29 and 42, that is in a plain generally parallel to the sliding panel. [0048] In use of the above assembly 10, if the assembly 10 is to be removed from an installed position with respect to the panel, the roller 26, and therefore the carriage 22, is pushed to a retracted position until the step 45 is aligned with the aperture 46. Thereafter the catch 43 will retain the roller 26 and carriage 22 in the retracted position. This facilitates removal of the assembly 10.

Claims

1. A roller assembly for a sliding door or window having a frame with a movable panel mounted on the frame, said assembly including: a base to be fixed to the panel; a carriage engaged with the base and movable relative thereto between a retracted position and an extended position; a roller attached to the carriage and rotatable about an axis that is intended to be generally transverse relative to the panel and to engage the frame so that the panel is at least partly guided by the roller assembly; and a catch operatively associated with the carriage and base to retain the carriage in the retracted position but operable to release the carriage for movement to the extended position.

2. The roller of claim 1, wherein the carriage is urged to move to the extended position.

3. The roller of claim 2, wherein the assembly includes a spring extending between the carriage and base to urge the carriage to the extended position.

4. The roller of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said carriage includes a cavity within which said spring is located.

5. The roller of any one of claims I to 4, wherein said base is hollow, and said carriage is received within the base.

6. The roller of claim 5, wherein said base has surfaces that slidably engage the carriage to restrain the carriage to move in a predetermined direction.

7. The roller of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said direction is generally vertical.

8. The roller of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the carriage moves relative to the base along a generally linear path.

9. The roller of claim 8, wherein said path is generally vertical when the assembly is attached to the panel. 8

10. The roller of any one of claims I to 9, wherein said catch is a catch member, the catch member being movable between a first position extending between the carriage and base to retain the carriage in a retracted position, and a second position releasing the carriage for movement relative to the base.

11. The roller of claim 10, wherein said catch is resiliently urged to the first position.

12. The roller of claim 10 or 11, wherein said catch is an elongated member having an end extremity that is movable between the first and second positions of the catch.

13. The roller of claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein said catch is integrally formed with said carriage, so that said member extends generally parallel to said direction.

14. The roller of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the base has an aperture engaged by said end extremity when the catch is in the first position.

15. The roller of any one of claims I to 14, wherein said carriage has edge portions extending generally parallel to said direction, with said member being formed with one of said edge portions.

16. The roller of any one of claims I to 15, wherein the roller assembly includes an adjustment mechanism to determine a maximum retracted position of the carriage.

17. The roller of claim 16, wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a ramp surface on said carriage, and an adjustment member moved relative to said ramp surface to limit movement of the carriage to determine the maximum retracted position.

18. The roller of claim 17, wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a threaded member mounted in the base, and a wedge member mounted on the threaded member and moved therealong by angular movement of the threaded member, with the wedge member engaged with said surface to determine said maximum retracted position.

19. The roller of claim 18, wherein said threaded member extends generally transverse of said direction. 9

20. The roller of any one of claims I to 19, wherein said roller is rotatably supported by an axle, with said axle extending beyond said carriage and engaged with said base to retain the roller attached to the base. Azuma Design Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON