CA2791692C - Roller assembly for a sliding panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A roller assembly adapted for mounting into a hollow framing member of a sliding panel assembly comprises a mounting housing having a bore extending angularly therethrough and a securing device for securing the mounting housing into the framing member, and a roller housing having a generally U-shaped configuration comprising a top wall having a threaded channel extending angularly therethrough. A roller is rotatably mounted in the roller housing and is adapted for accommodating a panel rail of the sliding panel assembly. A connecting shaft has a first end provided with a head engageable in the bore of the mounting housing and a second threaded end adapted for insertion into the threaded channel of the roller housing for adjustably connecting the mounting housing and the roller housing together along the second threaded end of the connecting shaft between a first extended position and a second retracted position.

Description

s ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR A SLIDING PANEL
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention generally relates to sliding panels and roller assemblies used therein and more precisely to a roller assembly adapted for mounting into a hollow framing member of a sliding panel assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Sliding panels, such as screen or glass doors and the like are generally provided with rollers at the corners of the panels adapted to slide on rails on the top and bottom of the door opening.

Spring biased roller assemblies mounted in a frame of the door have been proposed to enable easier installation and removal of the door from the rails.
Such rollers are generally adapted for individual vertical adjustment to adjust the height of the panel on its rails and provide a smooth sliding of the door in the rails.
It may help to compensate slight variations or imperfections that may exist in the door opening and associated rails.

Rollers assemblies wherein the roller itself is removable from the panel and replaceable without having to dismount the whole panel have also been proposed. Indeed, when the rollers are used as bottom supporting rollers, they have to support the weight of the door and may be subject to fast wearing.

Manufacturing and installation of such rollers assemblies may become quite complicated and costly.

Moreover, the adjustment of the four roller assemblies during installation of the door in the rails may be time consuming while not user friendly enough.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved roller assembly for a sliding panel that would reduce at least one of the above mentioned drawbacks.
SUMMARY

Accordingly, there is disclosed a roller assembly adapted for mounting into a hollow framing member of a sliding panel assembly. The roller assembly comprises a mounting housing adapted for mounting into the hollow framing member. The mounting housing has a bore extending angularly therethrough from a side wall thereof to a bottom wall thereof and a securing device for securing the mounting housing into the framing member. The roller assembly comprises a roller housing adapted for insertion into the hollow framing member and having a generally U-shaped configuration comprising first and second side walls and a top wall.
The top wall comprises a threaded channel extending angularly therethrough. The roller assembly comprises a roller rotatably mounted in the roller housing and having an outer surface adapted for accommodating a panel rail of the sliding panel assembly.
The roller assembly comprises a connecting shaft having a first end provided with a head engageable in the bore of the mounting housing and a second threaded end adapted for insertion into the threaded channel of the roller housing for adjustably connecting the mounting housing and the roller housing together along the second threaded end of the connecting shaft between a first extended position and a second retracted position.

In one embodiment, the roller assembly may be removed and replaced by a new one without having to dismount the frame of the panel.

In one embodiment, the securing device may be secured and controllably unsecured to the framing member without fasteners.

In one embodiment, the mounting housing further comprises a rigid portion. The rigid portion is embedding the bore.

-2-In one embodiment, the rigid portion includes side guiding surfaces. The side guiding surfaces are adapted to cooperate with guiding surfaces of the framing member.

In one embodiment, the side guiding surfaces form a rectangle.

In one embodiment, the mounting housing further comprises a protruding element extending from the side wall at a location proximate to the bore.

In one embodiment, the protruding element includes a slopped surface and an abutting top surface connected thereto, the abutting top surface being adapted to engage a complementary abutting notch of the framing member.

In one embodiment, the mounting housing further comprises a flexible portion connected to the rigid portion. The flexible portion includes a flexible arm.
The flexible arm protrudes outwardly from the rectangle defined by the side guiding surfaces.

In one embodiment, a spring is connected to the flexible portion. The spring biases the flexible portion against the framing member.

In one embodiment, at least one of the mounting housing and the roller housing is made of plastic.

In one embodiment, the connecting shaft is rotatably connected to the roller housing.

In one embodiment, when in the second retracted position, the roller housing is adapted to protrude outward the framing member by an amount less than when in the first extended position.

-3-BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be readily understood, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 (Prior Art) is a front view of a sliding screen door mounted in sliding rails, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a roller assembly for a sliding panel, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a back plan view of the roller assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A, 4C, 4E and 4F are back plan views of a mounting housing of the roller assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4B and 4D are top plan views of the mounting housing of the roller assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5A is a front perspective view of the roller housing of the roller assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5B to 5D are top plan view, front plan view and side plan view respectively of the roller housing shown in FIG. 5A;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are side plan view, front plan view and front perspective view respectively of the roller of the roller assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are front perspective view and front plan view respectively of the connecting shaft of the roller assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 8A to 8C are cross sectional views of framing members of a sliding panel, according to various embodiments.

-4-Further details of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from the detailed description included below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of the embodiments, references to the accompanying drawings are by way of illustration of examples by which the invention may be practiced. It will be understood that other embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

There is disclosed a roller assembly for a sliding panel that may be mounted inside a framing member of the sliding panel. The sliding panel may be a screen or glass doors or the like as non-limitative examples.

FIG. 1 (Prior Art) illustrates a sliding patio screen door 10 having opposed horizontal and vertical framing members 12, 14 respectively connected at their ends to form a generally rectangular frame 16 within which is mounted a screen sheet 18.
In the illustrated embodiment, the frame 16 is provided with four rollers 24 extending outwardly therefrom, one at each corner of the frame 16. The frame 16 is adapted to slide along opposed lower and upper horizontal rails 20, 22 cooperating with the rollers 24.

Throughout the present description, a roller assembly will generally be described according to a lower configuration, for example the roller assembly is devised to be mounted at the bottom of a sliding panel sliding horizontally between horizontal rails. The skilled addressee will nevertheless appreciate that the roller assembly may also be used at the top of the sliding panel. In an alternative configuration, the sliding panel may be adapted to slide vertically in an associated frame. The skilled addressee will therefore appreciate that the terms horizontally, vertically, downwards, top, bottom and the like should not be understood as limiting the scope of the present description and appended claim to the lower configuration.

-5-Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown a roller assembly 100 for mounting into a hollow framing member of a sliding panel, such as the sliding screen patio door 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 as a non-limitative example, according to one embodiment, and as it will become apparent below.

FIGS. 8A to 8C show cross sections of various embodiments of hollow framing members 800a, 800b, 800c, generally designed 800 thereinafter, of a sliding panel in which the roller assembly 100 may be mounted. In one embodiment, the framing members 800 may comprise extruded metal sections. A sliding panel sliding horizontally between opposed lower and upper horizontal rails mounted in a wall opening can comprise two opposed vertical hollow framing members 800, each having upper and lower opposed open end defining corresponding upper and lower receiving cavities 806. In one embodiment, a roller assembly 100 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is mounted in each receiving cavity 806 of the lower ends of the framing members 800 for accommodating the sliding panel between the rails. In another embodiment, the roller assembly 100 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is mounted at each upper receiving cavity 806 of the framing members 800 while another type of roller assembly may be used at each lower end. For example, spring biased rollers may be used, as it should become apparent to the skilled addressee.

As illustrated, in one embodiment, the receiving cavity 806 has a substantially rectangular cross section. In a further embodiment, a hook portion 810 is used for retaining the screen in the framing members 800a, 800b, 800c. In another embodiment, one of the vertical framing members 800 may be provided with a bug flap 820.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the roller assembly 100 comprises a mounting housing 200 adapted for mounting into a receiving cavity 806 of a hollow framing member. As better shown in FIG. 3, the mounting housing 200 has a bore 202 extending angularly therethrough from a side wall 204 thereof to a bottom wall 214 thereof. In one embodiment, the bore 202 comprises a counterbored portion

-6-adapted for receiving the head of a shaft, as detailed below. In one embodiment, the bore 202 extends from the side wall 204 which is mounted proximate the outer edge 830 of the framing member 800 for enabling access to the head of the shaft therefrom. In a further embodiment, an appropriate hole or aperture (not shown) is provided in the framing member 800 for enabling access to the head of the shaft.
Such configuration may enable adjustment of each roller assembly 100, as it will become apparent below.

The mounting housing 200 also comprises a securing device for securing the mounting housing 200 into the framing member 800 and restricting movement thereof. In one embodiment, the mounting housing 200 comprises a rigid portion embedding the bore 202, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The rigid portion 218 comprises side guiding surfaces 206, 208, 210, 212 adapted for sliding along corresponding guiding surfaces provided inside the receiving cavity 806. In the illustrated embodiment, the rigid portion 218 comprises two pairs of opposed side guiding surfaces 206, 208 and 210, 212 defining a rectangular cross section fitting into the corresponding rectangular cross section of the receiving cavity 806.

A pair of engageable complementary elements, respectively provided on the rigid portion 218 of the mounting housing 200 and on a corresponding guiding surface of the receiving cavity (not shown) may be used for securing the mounting housing 200 once it is inserted into the receiving cavity 806 at a suitable location.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the securing device comprises a protruding element 220 extending on the side wall 204 from which the bore 202 opens, between the opening of the bore 202 and the bottom wall 214 of the mounting housing 200. As better illustrated in FIG. 4C, the protruding element has a slopped surface 222 and an abutting top surface 224 connected thereto that is adapted for engaging a complementary abutting notch (not shown) provided in the framing member 800. Once the protruding element 220 is engaged in the abutting

-7-notch, the mounting housing 200 is prevented from sliding out of the receiving cavity 806 of the framing member 800.

Referring to FIG. 2 and also to FIG. 4A, in a further embodiment, the mounting housing 200 further comprises a flexible portion 226 connected to the rigid portion 218 and comprising a flexible arm 228 protruding outwards the generally rectangular shape defined by the side guiding surfaces 206, 208, 210, 212 of the rigid portion 218. Thus, in its normal position, the mounting assembly 200 has a rectangular cross section greater than the rectangular cross section of the receiving cavity 806 of the framing member 800.

As it should become apparent to the skilled addressee, the flexible portion 226 of the mounting housing 200 is adapted to flex inwardly during insertion into the receiving cavity 806. For example, a force applied to the bottom of the mounting housing 200 will force the flexible arm 228 to flex inwardly to enable sliding of the mounting housing 200 inside the receiving cavity 806. The mounting housing 200 is pushed inside the receiving cavity 806 until the abutting top surface 224 of the protruding element 220 provided on the rigid portion 218 engages the abutting notch of the receiving cavity 806. The flexible portion 226 is spring biased against the corresponding sliding surface of the receiving cavity 806 to help retaining the mounting housing 200 in the engaged position. In another embodiment, stops (not shown) may be provided inside the receiving cavity 806 for holding the mounting assembly 200 in the suitable position.

In one embodiment, the mounting housing 200 is made of plastic material chosen to provide a sufficient overall rigidity to the mounting housing while enabling a suitable flexing of the flexible arm 228 upon action of a convenient force.
For example, polyacetal resin polyoxymethylene (POM) may be used. In a further embodiment, the rigid portion 218, the flexible portion 226 and the protruding element 220 are integrally molded together.

-8-Although a given embodiment of the mounting housing has been described in details above, the skilled addressee will nevertheless appreciate that various other arrangements may be considered. For example, other materials and alternative manufacturing processes may be considered.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5A to 5D, the roller assembly 100 comprises a roller housing 300 adapted for insertion into the receiving cavity 806 of the hollow framing member 800. In one embodiment, the roller housing 300 is adapted to snuggly slide in and out of a corresponding receiving cavity 806. In other words, the roller assembly 300 may be provided with guiding surfaces cooperating with the guiding surfaces of the receiving cavity 806 for guiding the movement of the roller housing 300 therein. The skilled addressee will nevertheless appreciate that other arrangements may be considered.

As better seen in FIG. 5A, the roller housing 300 has a generally U-shaped configuration and comprises first and second side walls 302, 304 and a top wall 306. The top wall 306 comprises a threaded channel 308 extending angularly therethrough and adapted for receiving a corresponding threaded portion of a shaft, as better illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5D, and as detailed below.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the roller assembly 100 comprises a roller 400 rotatably mounted in the roller housing 300, as detailed below. As better shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the roller 400 has an outer surface 402 adapted for accommodating the panel rail of the sliding panel assembly, as known in the art.

In one embodiment, the roller housing 300 is made of plastic material chosen to provide a sufficient overall rigidity thereto. For example, polyacetal resin polyoxymethylene (POM) may be used. In a further embodiment, the roller 400 is also made of plastic material. In yet a further embodiment, each of the roller housing 300 and the roller 400 may be molded together. The skilled addressee will nevertheless appreciate that other configurations may be considered for a given application.

-9-Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7A to 7B, the roller assembly 100 comprises a connecting shaft 500 for adjustably connecting the mounting housing 200 and the roller housing 300 together. The connecting shaft 500 has a first end 502 provided with a head 504 engageable in the counterbored portion 216 of the bore 202 of the mounting housing 200. The connecting shaft 500 is also provided with a second threaded end 506 adapted for insertion into the threaded channel 308 of the roller housing 300. In one embodiment, the connecting shaft 500 is made of steel although other materials may be considered for a given application.

When the mounting housing 200 is firmly secured inside the framing member 800 and the roller housing 300 is connected to the mounting housing 200 through the connecting shaft 500, a rotation of the connecting shaft 500 provides a relative movement of the roller housing 300 along the connecting shaft 500 that enables a sliding of the roller housing 300 in and out the end of the framing member 800 between a first extended position and a second retracted position, as detailed below.

According to one embodiment, in a most retracted position, the roller housing 300 protrudes outwards the end of the framing members 800, for example by 1/8 inch. In a most extended position, the roller housing 300 protrudes significantly outwards the end of the framing member 800, for example, by 3/8 inch.

In a further embodiment, the roller housing 300 is provided with an abutting wall 320 extending between the side walls 302, 304, as illustrated in FIG. 5A. This abutting wall 320 is adapted to abut a mounting screw (not shown) provided in the framing member 800 during insertion of the roller housing therein.

Once each of the rollers are appropriately arranged with the rails, each roller may be individually adjusted between the retracted position and the extended position to adjust the relative height, and eventually the inclination, of the sliding panel in the corresponding wall opening, as it should become apparent to the skilled addressee. It is worth mentioning that, in most embodiments, the roller housing 300

-10-protrudes outwards the end of the framing member 800 in order to accommodate the rails. However, in one embodiment, the roller housing 300 may be completely retracted inside the framing member 800 in the most retracted position.

The above described embodiment provides a height adjustment of about 2/8 inch of the roller assembly with respect to the framing members but the skilled addressee will appreciate that other arrangements may be used for a given application.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the connecting shaft 500 extends at about 15 degrees relatively to the side wall 204 of the mounting housing 200 but other configurations may be considered. As a non-limitative example, the angle between the connecting shaft 500 and the side wall 204 may range from 5 to 30 degrees.

According to one embodiment, a roller assembly 100 can be removable from the framing member 800 for replacement purpose. Therefore, in one embodiment, an appropriate aperture (not shown) is provided in the outer edge of the framing member 800 for enabling access to the protruding element 220 of the mounting housing 200. A user would first remove the sliding panel from the rails.
Then, an appropriate tool such as a screwdriver for example may be used to apply a force on the protruding element 220. Under the applied force, the flexible arm will flex inwardly to free the protruding element 220 from the notch of the receiving cavity 806 of the framing member 800. The roller assembly 100 may then be removed from the framing member 800 and a new one may be installed.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the roller housing 300 may be provided with two projecting lips 310, 312 acting as guides and devised to cooperate with the corresponding rail of the sliding panel assembly (not shown) for retaining the panel in the rail, as known in the art. In a further embodiment, the lips 310, 312 may be each provided with an inwards projecting member at the end thereof to reduce the chance of unwanted removal of the roller housing 300 from the

- 11 -rail during a sliding movement of the sliding panel. The skilled addressee will nevertheless appreciate that others arrangements may be considered.

In yet a further embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a compression spring extending about the connecting shaft 500 between the mounting housing 200 and the roller housing 300 may be used for providing a suitable suspension to the housings.

Although the above description relates to example embodiments as presently contemplated by the inventor, it will be understood that the invention in its broad aspect includes mechanical and functional equivalents of the elements described herein. For example, although the roller assembly has been described for use with a sliding panel, the skilled addressee will nevertheless appreciate that the roller assembly may be used in conjunction with various other types of equipment or devices which need to be slid in a corresponding outer frame.

-12-

Claims (11)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A roller assembly adapted for mounting into a hollow framing member of a sliding panel assembly, said roller assembly comprising:

a mounting housing adapted for mounting into the hollow framing member, said mounting housing having a bore extending angularly therethrough from a side wall thereof to a bottom wall thereof and a securing device for securing the mounting housing into the framing member;

a roller housing adapted for insertion into the hollow framing member and having a generally U-shaped configuration comprising first and second side walls and a top wall, the top wall comprising a threaded channel extending angularly therethrough;

a roller rotatably mounted in the roller housing and having an outer surface adapted for accommodating a panel rail of said sliding panel assembly; and a connecting shaft having a first end provided with a head engageable in the bore of the mounting housing and a second threaded end adapted for insertion into the threaded channel of the roller housing for adjustably connecting the mounting housing and the roller housing together along the second threaded end of the connecting shaft between a first extended position and a second retracted position.

2. The roller assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting housing further comprises a rigid portion, the rigid portion embedding the bore.

3. The roller assembly of claim 2, wherein the rigid portion includes side guiding surfaces, the side guiding surfaces being adapted to cooperate with guiding surfaces of the framing member.

4. The roller assembly of claim 3, wherein the side guiding surfaces form a rectangle.

5. The roller assembly of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the mounting housing further comprises a protruding element extending from the side wall at a location proximate to the bore.

6. The roller assembly of claim 5, wherein the protruding element includes a slopped surface and an abutting top surface connected thereto, the abutting top surface being adapted to engage a complementary abutting notch of the framing member.

7. The roller assembly of claim 4, wherein the mounting housing further comprises a flexible portion connected to the rigid portion, the flexible portion including a flexible arm, the flexible arm protruding outwardly from the rectangle defined by the side guiding surfaces.

8. The roller assembly of claim 7, further comprising a spring connected to the flexible portion, the spring biasing the flexible portion against the framing member.

9. The roller assembly of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one of the mounting housing and the roller housing is made of plastic.

10. The roller assembly of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the connecting shaft is rotatably connected to the roller housing.

11. The roller assembly of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein when in the second retracted position, the roller housing is adapted to protrude outward the framing member by an amount less than when in the first extended position.