CA3033292C - Sliding cover system and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A sliding cover system generally comprise a plurality of panels. Each panel comprises a connecting system adapted to pull or be pulled by another panel. In a deployed state, each panel are vertically superposed to cover an opening area of the wall 50. In a retracted state, the panels are horizontally superposed. Understandably, the present invention is not limited to two states as the panels may be retracted at any vertical position to partially cover the opening or aperture.

Description

File numbcr, 11758-032 Title of the Invention Sliding cover system and method thereof Cross-Reference to Related Applications [0001] The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/725,950, entitled "SLIDING COVER SYSTEM
AND METHOD THEREOF", and filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on August 31, 2018.
Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a systems and methods for covering and uncovering an opening of a wall. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for slidingly covering an aperture or opening of a wall.
Background of the Invention

[0003] Nowadays, farm buildings and more specifically animal confinement house needs to be well ventilated. Indeed, body heat of the animal may substantially increase the temperature of the building. As such, the farms building typically comprise walls with windows or openings adapted to provide ventilation or aerate the said building. As temperatures may significantly drop at night and during the winter, the windows or apertures need to be partially or totally closed.

[0004] Typically, an animal confinement house is made with two side walls having large open windows. In some cases, the windows cover half of the area of the side walls.

[0005] Windows adapted for animal confinement houses are known in the art. As an example, W02008147224A1 discloses an animal shelter having the windows with louvre boards. The boards pivot to open and close some areas of the window.

[0006] US patent US 4.428,278 discloses an emergency ventilation control apparatus for animal confinement house. This apparatus comprises curtains to cover the openings. Such system does not allow increasing the size of the openings of the animal confinement house.

File number 11758-032

[0007] Thus, there is still a need for an improved system and method for covering and uncovering opening while increasing the areas of the openings allowing ventilation and thus improving ventilation within the building.
Summary of the Invention

[0008] The shortcomings of the prior art are generally mitigated by providing a sliding door.

[0009] The movable cover for covering an opening according to the present invention generally aims at enlarging area of the openings and thus improving the efficiency of ventilation for the animal confinement house.

[0010] In one aspect of the invention, a sliding cover system comprising at least two panels is provided. Each panel comprises a connecting system adapted to pull or be pulled by another panel. In a deployed state, each panel are vertically superposed to cover an opening area of the wall. In a retracted state, the panels are horizontally superposed.
Understandably, the present invention is not limited to two states as the panels may be retracted at any vertical position to partially cover the opening. In some embodiments, the top portion of the wall 50 may be t thicker than the bottom portion of the wall. The thinner portion is then adapted to receive a lower panel and the top portion is adapted to receive a top or higher panel. Such configuration generally allows sealing or at least limiting air to move across the gap between the lower panel and the top panel.
When all panels are in close state, the air exchange between the inside and outside portions of the wall 50 are reduced.

[0011] In one aspect of the invention, there is no gap between the first panel and second panel of the sliding cover system and the wall to seal or at least limit air exchange with the outside of the building.

[0012] In another aspect of the invention, a sliding system to cover an opening in a wall is provided. The sliding system comprises a pulling system, an upper panel being upwardly and downwardly movable by the pulling system, the upper panel being in a first plane about parallel to the wall and a lower panel being in a second plane about parallel to the first plane. The upper panel is operatively connected to the lower panel when the File number 11758-032 pulling system upwardly move the upper panel to connect and to tract the lower panel;
and the upper panel is operatively disconnected from the lower panel when the lower panel contacts a base surface, the upper and lower panels covering the opening in the wall when pulled. The upper and lower panels may clear the opening when in a retracted state.

[0013] The sliding system may further comprise at least one linking system, the linking system comprising a first member attached to the upper panel and a second member attached to the lower panel, the first member operatively connecting to the second member when the pulling system upwardly pull the upper panel and the first and the second members operatively disconnecting the first member from the second member when the lower panel contacts a base surface.

[0014] The first member may be attached to a lower portion of the upper panel and the second member being attached to an upper portion of the lower panel. The first member may be an L-shaped hook and the second member may be a reversed L-shaped hook.
The pulling system may be driven by a motor. The pulling system may further comprise a cable attached to the upper panel.

[0015] The sliding system may further comprise at least one guiding assembly adapted to limit lateral movement of the panels. The guiding member may further comprise a vertical guiding member attached to the wall and at least one sliding member attached to at least one of the upper or lower panels, the at least one sliding member being adapted to slidingly receive the guiding member.

[0016] The wall may comprise a top portion and a bottom portion forming the aperture, the bottom portion of the wall having a height similar to the height of a lower panel. The top portion of the wall may have a height similar to the height of the top panel. The thickness of the top portion of the wall may be greater than the thickness of the bottom portion of the wall, the difference in thickness forming the second plane. The difference in thickness may be the width of the lower panel.

[0017] A top portion of the bottom panel may comprise a bumper element adapted to stop upward movement of the bottom panel against a bottom portion of the top portion of the wall.

File number 11758-032

[0018] In a further aspect of the invention, a method for covering an opening in a wall using an upper panel and a lower panel is provided. The method comprises upwardly moving the top panel over the opening in a first plane parallel to the wall, while upwardly moving the top panel, connecting the lower panel to the upper panel and the upper panel towing the lower panel over the opening. the lower panel moving in a second plane parallel to the wall.

[0019] Connecting the lower panel to the upper panel may further comprise a first member attached to a lower portion of the upper panel operatively connecting to a second member attached to an upper portion of the lower panel and a second member attached to the lower panel. The method may further comprise downwardly moving the top panel over the opening in the first plane and operatively disconnecting the lower panel from the upper panel when the lower panel contacts a base surface. Disconnecting the lower panel from the upper panel may further comprise a first member attached to a lower portion of the upper panel operatively disconnecting from a second member attached to an upper portion of the lower panel when the lower panel contacts a base surface.
Upwardly moving the upper panel may further comprise using a pulling system with a cable attached to the upper panel.

[0020] The method may further comprise guiding the movement of the upper panel to limit lateral movement of the upper panel. The method may further comprise guiding the movement of the lower panel to limit lateral movement of the lower panel. The wall may comprise a top portion and a bottom portion forming the aperture, the bottom portion of the wall having a height similar to the height of a lower panel and the thickness of the top portion of the wall being greater than the thickness of the bottom portion of the wall, the difference in thickness forming the second plane, the method further comprising a top portion of the lower panel abutting against the bottom end of the top portion of the wall to stop upward movement of the bottom panel.

[0021] In yet another aspect of the invention, a sliding system to cover an opening in a wall. The sliding system comprises a pulling system, a lower panel being upwardly and downwardly movable by the pulling system, the lower panel being in a first plane about parallel to the wall and an upper panel being in a second plane about parallel to the first File number 11758-032 plane. The lower panel may operatively connect to the upper panel when the pulling system upwardly move the lower panel to connect and to upwardly push the upper panel and the lower panel may be operatively disconnected from the upper panel when the upper panel contacts a top surface, the upper and lower panels covering the opening in the wall when lowered.

[0022] The upper and lower panels may clear the opening when in a pulled state.

[0023] The sliding system may further comprise at least one linking system, the linking system comprising a first member attached to the lower panel and a second member attached to the upper panel, the first member operatively connecting to the second member when the pulling system upwardly pull the lower panel and the first and the second members operatively disconnecting the first member from the second member when the upper panel contacts a top surface.

[0024] The second member may be attached to a lower portion of the upper panel and the first member being attached to an upper portion of the lower panel. The second member may be an L-shaped hook and the first member may be a reversed L-shaped hook.
The pulling system may further comprise a cable attached to the lower panel.

[0025] The sliding system may further comprise at least one guiding assembly adapted to limit lateral movement of the panels. The guiding member may further comprise a vertical guiding member attached to the wall and at least one sliding member attached to at least one of the upper or lower panels, the at least one sliding member being adapted to slidingly receive the guiding member.

[0026] The wall may comprise a top portion and a bottom portion forming the aperture, the bottom portion of the wall having a height similar to the height of a lower panel. The top portion of the wall may have a height similar to the height of the top panel. The thickness of the lower portion of the wall may be greater than the thickness of the top portion of the wall, the difference in thickness forming the second plane. A
bottom portion of the upper panel may comprise a bumper element adapted to stop downward movement of the upper panel against a top portion of the bottom portion of the wall. The difference in thickness may be the width of the upper panel.

File number 11758-032

[0027] Other and further aspects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.
Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0029] Figure 1 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of a sliding cover system in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the system being shown with the first plate and the second plate in a close state;

[0030] Figure 2 is a right elevation view of the sliding cover system of Figure 1;

[0031] Figure 3 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of a sliding cover system in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the system being shown during closing or opening of the system;

[0032] Figure 4 is a right elevation view of the sliding cover system of Figure 3;

[0033] Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the sliding cover system of Figure 3;

[0034] Figure 6 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of a sliding cover system in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the system being shown in an open or recessed state;

[0035] Figure 7 is a left elevation view of the sliding cover of Figure 6;

[0036] Figure 8 is a front perspective view of the sliding cover of Figure 6;

[0037] Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of an exemplary system for connecting a panel to another.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0038] A novel sliding cover system and method thereof will be described hereinafter.
Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to File number 11758-032 be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.

[0039] The sliding cover system generally comprises a plurality of panels.
Each panel comprises a connecting system adapted to pull or be pulled by another panel.
In a deployed state, each panel are vertically superposed to cover a window or an opened area of the wall. In a retracted state, the panels are horizontally superposed or one in front of the other. Understandably, the present invention is not limited to two states as the panels may be retracted at any height to partially cover the opening in the wall. In some embodiments, the top portion of the wall may be thicker than the bottom portion of the wall. The thinner portion is then adapted to receive a lower panel and the top portion is adapted to receive a top or higher panel. Such configuration generally allows sealing or at least limiting air to move across the gap between the lower panel and the top panel. When all panels are in close state, the air exchange between the inside and outside portions of the wall 50 are reduced.

[0040] Now referring to Figures 1 and 2, an embodiment of a sliding cover system 100 having two panels 101 and 102 completely covering the opening or aperture is shown.
Each panel 101 or 102 is adapted to at least partially cover the area of an opening to be covered when placed in vertically superposed position. As such a first panel 101 covers the top portion of the opening and the second panel covers the lower portion of the opening. As shown in the Figure 2, in some embodiments, the bottom panel 102 is positioned to be closer to the wall than the top panel 101.

[0041] The system 100 further comprises a linking mechanism 10 adapted for the first panel 101 to connect and to vertically drag the second panel 102. The system further comprises a pulling system 20 adapted to pull the top panel toward the top of the wall 50.
Preferably, the system comprises a guiding mechanism 30 adapted to hold the panels 101 and 102 in a vertical position and/or to guide the panels 101 and 102 when moving up or down.

[0042] Referring back to Figures I and 2, in some embodiments, the pulling system 20 comprises a driving means, such as a motor 22, a shaft 24 pivotally attached to the wall 50 and panel attachment means 26 adapted to connect the pulling system 20 to the top File number: 11758-032 panel 101. The pulling system 20 may further comprise one or more fixing members 28 mounted to the top area of the side wall 50. The fixing members 28 are adapted to pivotally receive the shaft 24. In such embodiments, the shaft 24 is pivotally connected to the driving means 22. Typically, the number of fixing members 28 varies as a function of the load to be supported by the shaft. In a typical embodiment, the pulling system 20 further comprises a cable or wire (now shown) adapted to attach to the top panel 101. In some embodiments, the motor 22 is an electrical motor which actuates the rotation of the shaft 24.

[0043] The attachment means are typically installed on the top side of the first plate 101.
One or more cable is mounted to the different attachment means 26 and is rolled and unrolled on the rotating shaft 24. The motor 22 may be configured to control the rotation of the shaft 24 and to stop such rotation when the panels 101 and 102 are raised at predetermined positions, such as completely close, fully open or any other position in-between. Understandably, any means to control the rotation of the motor 22 may be used, such as a controller or a timer.

[0044] In some embodiments, the first and second panels 101 and 102 are made rigid yet light material such a polymeric material, plastics, aluminum etc. In yet other embodiments, the system 100 may further comprise a lateral guiding assembly 40.
Typically, the lateral guiding assembly 40 comprises one or more lateral guiding .. members or assemblies 42, 44. Such lateral guiding members 42, 44 aims at limiting lateral movement of the panels 101, 102.

[0045] In some embodiments, the guiding mechanism 30 may be attached to the top and bottom portions of the wall 50. As an example, the guiding mechanism 30 may be attached using an attachment member 32, 34 such as but not limited to a L-shape bracket.
The guiding mechanism 30 may further comprise a guiding member 36, such as a rod or elongated member, attached to the attachment members 32, 34. In such an embodiment, each panel 101, 102 further comprise a sliding member 38 adapted to slidingly receive the guiding member 36. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the system 20 comprises three guiding mechanism 30. Understandably, any known other mechanism or method of guiding the panels 101, 102 may be used within the scope of the present invention.

File number 11758-032

[0046] Broadly, the first panel 101 and the second panel 102 slide along the guiding members 36. The number of the attachment means 26 and cables generally depend on the length, the weight and/or the material of the panels 101, 102. In some embodiments, the cable is, but not limited to, a chain, strip or cord.
.. [0047] Now referring to Figure 2, a side view of the sliding cover system 100 of Figure 1 is shown. The linking mechanism 10 is used to connect the panels 101, 102 one to the other. Preferably, as shown in Figure 2, the linking mechanism 10 comprises a first linking member 12 attached to the bottom of the first panel 101 and a second linking member 14 attached to the top of the second panel 102.
[0048] As such, when the top panel 101 is raised, the linking mechanism 12 of the top panel 101 connects or lock with the linking mechanism 14 of the bottom panel 102. As a result, the lower panel 102 is dragged by the top panel 101 [0049] Referring now to Figure 9. an embodiment of the linking mechanism 10 is shown.
The first linking member 12 projects toward the second panel 102 and the second linking member 14 project toward the first panel 101. Thus, when the first linking member 12 raises to the level of the second linking member 14, the second linking member 14 is hooked or dragged by the first linking member 12. When the first panel 101 is lowered, as the lower panel 102 is completely lowered, the second linking member 14 is released by the first linking member 12. The top panel 101 may then be lowered to the same level as the bottom panel 102.
[0050] In some embodiments, the first linking member 12 is an L-shaped hook and the second linking member 14 is a reversed L-shaped hook. These two L-shaped hooks are configured to have two face-to-face hangers adapted to lock the first plate 101 and the second plate 102 when moving upwardly or downwardly.
[0051] In some embodiments, the wall 50 comprises a top portion 52 and a bottom portion 54. The top portion 52 has a height substantially similar to the height of the top panel 101. The bottom portion 54 has a height substantially similar to the height of a lower panel (i.e. 102). The top portion 52 of the wall is thicker than the bottom portion 54. Such difference in thickness allows the bottom portion 54 to receive a bottom panel 102 and the top portion 52 to receive the top panel 101.

File number 11758-032 [0052] Still referring to Figure 9, in some embodiments, the top portion of the bottom panel 102 may comprise a bumper element 1022 adapted to stop the upward movement of the bottom panel 102 against the bottom portion of the thicker wall portion 52.
[0053] In some embodiments, the thinner wall portion 54 is adapted to receive the width of the bottom panel 102. As such when bottom panel 102 is completely raised, the panel 102 creates a protection barrier against the elements (wind, temperature, rain, etc.).
[0054] Referring back to Figures 1 and 2, the first panel 101 and the second panel 102 slide upward until the first panel 101 reaches the top of the opening.
Meanwhile, the second panel 102 may be stopped by the bottom portion of the thicker wall 52 or the height of the panel 102 may be adapted to fit the bottom portion of the wall and reaches the bottom portion of the thicker wall 52 at the same time as the top panel 101 reaches the top of the opening.
[0055] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the sliding cover system 100 of Figure 1 is shown while being partially raised. As shown, the first panel 101 and the second panel 102 are being raised or stopped at a desired height to allow a reduced opening of the opening.
[0056] Now referring to Figure 5, a perspective view of the sliding cover system 100 of Figures 3 and 4 is shown. The system 100 is partially raised or lowered. Now referring to Figures 6 to 8, the sliding cover system 100 of Figure 1 is shown while being completely lowered state. In such an embodiment, the first panel 101 is positioned in front of the second panel 102. Thus, the first and second panels 101 and 102 cover the same area of the wall to allow a complete opening of the opening.
[0057] As explained above, when lowered, the second panel 102 first reaches the lowest position, the linking mechanism 10 is freed or released and the first panel 101 may then be lowered to the lowest position. Understandably, the lowest position could be the floor .. or any other height. In embodiments where the lowest position is not the floor, a stopping mechanism must be added to receive and the stop the panels 101 and 102.
[0058] In yet other embodiments, the number of panels could be more than two.
In such embodiments, the top panel 101 comprises a linking mechanism 10 adapted to connect with the next lower panel 102, the bottom panel 102 comprises a linking mechanism 10 File number 11758-032 adapted to connect with the next top panel 102 and each in-between panel 102 comprises two linking mechanism 10, one to connect with the next top panel 102 and another to connect with the next lower panel 102. Understandably, the wall 50 could be adapted to comprise portions having different thicknesses to receive each panel 101 or 102.
[0059] While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

Claims (35)

Claims

1) A sliding system to cover an opening in a wall, the sliding system comprising:
- a pulling system;
- an upper panel being upwardly and downwardly movable by the pulling system, the upper panel being in a first plane about parallel to the wall;
- a lower panel being in a second plane about parallel to the first plane;
the upper panel operatively connecting to the lower panel when the pulling system upwardly move the upper panel to connect and to tract the lower panel;
the upper panel being operatively disconnected from the lower panel when the lower panel contacts a base surface;
the upper and lower panels covering the opening in the wall when pulled.

2) The sliding system of claim 1, the upper and lower panels clearing the opening when in a retracted state.

3) The sliding system of claim 1, the sliding system further comprising at least one linking system, the linking system comprising a first member attached to the upper panel and a second member attached to the lower panel, the first member operatively connecting to the second member when the pulling system upwardly pull the upper panel and the first and the second members operatively disconnecting the first member from the second member when the lower panel contacts the base surface.

4) The sliding system of claim 3, the first member being attached to a lower portion of the upper panel and the second member being attached to an upper portion of the lower panel.

5) The sliding system of claim 4, the first member being an L-shaped hook and the second member being a reversed L-shaped hook.

6) The sliding system of any one of claims 1 to 5, the pulling system being driven by a motor.

7) The sliding system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pulling system further comprises a cable attached to the upper panel.

8) The sliding system of any one of claims 1 to 5, the sliding system further comprising at least one guiding assembly adapted to limit lateral movement of the panels.

9) The sliding system of claim 8, the guiding assembly further comprising a vertical guiding member attached to the wall and at least one sliding member attached to at least one of the upper and lower panels, the at least one sliding member being adapted to slidingly receive the vertical guiding member.

10) The sliding system of any one of claims 1 to 9, the wall comprising a top portion and a bottom portion forming an aperture, the bottom portion of the wall having a height similar to the height of the lower panel.

11) The sliding system of claim 10, the top portion of the wall having a height similar to the height of the upper panel.

12) The sliding system of any one of claims 10 and 11, the thickness of the top portion of the wall being greater than the thickness of the bottom portion of the wall, the difference in thickness forming the second plane.

13) The sliding system of claim 1 2, a top portion of the lower panel comprising a bumper element adapted to stop upward movement of the lower panel against a bottom portion of the top portion of the wall.

14) The sliding system of any one of claims 12 and 13, the difference in thickness being the width of the lower panel.

15) A method for covering an opening in a wall using an upper panel and a lower panel, the method comprising:
- upwardly moving the upper panel over the opening in a first plane parallel to the wall;
- while upwardly moving the upper panel, connecting the lower panel to the upper panel;

- the upper panel towing the lower panel over the opening, the lower panel moving in a second plane parallel to the wall.

16) The method of claim 15, connecting the lower panel to the upper panel further comprising a first member attached to a lower portion of the upper panel operatively connecting to a second member attached to an upper portion of the lower panel.

17) The method of any one of claims 15 and 16, the method further comprising:
- downwardly moving the upper panel over the opening in the first plane;
and - operatively disconnecting the lower panel from the upper panel when the lower panel contacts a base surface.

18) The method of claim 16, disconnecting the lower panel from the upper panel further comprising the first member attached to the lower portion of the upper panel operatively disconnecting from the second member attached to the upper portion of the lower panel when the lower panel contacts a base surface.

19) The method of any one of claims 15 to 18, upwardly moving the upper panel further comprising using a pulling system with a cable attached to the upper panel.

20) The method of any one of claims 15 to 19, the method further comprising guiding the movement of the upper panel to limit lateral movement of the upper panel.

21) The method of claim 20, the method further comprising guiding the movement of the lower panel to limit lateral movement of the lower panel.

22) The method of claim 16 or 18, the wall comprising a top portion and a bottom portion forming an aperture, the bottom portion of the wall having a height similar to the height of the lower panel and the thickness of the top portion of the wall being greater than the thickness of the bottom portion of the wall, the difference in thickness forming the second plane, the method further comprising the upper portion of the lower panel abutting against a bottom end of the top portion of the wall to stop upward movement of the lower panel.

23) A sliding system to cover an opening in a wall, the sliding system comprising:
- a pulling system;
- a lower panel being upwardly and downwardly movable by the pulling system, the lower panel being in a first plane about parallel to the wall;
- ____ an upper panel being in a second plane about parallel to the first plane;
the lower panel operatively connecting to the upper panel when the pulling system upwardly move the lower panel to connect and to upwardly push the upper panel;
the lower panel being operatively disconnected from the upper panel when the upper panel contacts a top surface;
the upper and lower panels covering the opening in the wall when lowered.

24) The sliding system of claim 23, the upper and lower panels clearing the opening when in a pulled state.

25) The sliding system of claim 23, the sliding system further comprising at least one linking system, the linking system comprising a first member attached to the lower panel and a second member attached to the upper panel, the first member operatively connecting to the second member when the pulling system upwardly pull the lower panel and the first and the second members operatively disconnecting the first member from the second member when the upper panel contacts the top surface.

26) The sliding system of claim 25, the second member being attached to a lower portion of the upper panel and the first member being attached to an upper portion of the lower panel.

27) The sliding system of claim 26. the second member being an L-shaped hook and the first member being a reversed L-shaped hook.

28) The sliding system of any one of claims 23 to 27, wherein the pulling system further comprises a cable attached to the lower panel.

29) The sliding system of any one of claims 23 to 28, the sliding system further comprising at least one guiding assembly adapted to limit lateral movement of the panels.

30) The sliding system of claim 29, the guiding assembly further comprising a vertical guiding member attached to the wall and at least one sliding member attached to at least one of the upper and lower panels. the at least one sliding member being adapted to slidingly receive the vertical guiding member.

31) The sliding system of any one of claims 23 to 30, the wall comprising a top portion and a bottom portion forming an aperture, the bottom portion of the wall having a height similar to the height of the lower panel.

32) The sliding system of claim 31, the top portion of the wall having a height similar to the height of the upper panel.

33) The sliding system of any one of claims 31 and 32, the thickness of the bottom portion of the wall being greater than the thickness of the top portion of the wall, the difference in thickness forming the second plane.

34) The sliding system of claim 33. the lower portion of the upper panel comprising a bumper element adapted to stop downward movement of the upper panel against a top portion of the bottom portion of the wall.

35) The sliding system of any one of claims 33 and 34, the difference in thickness being the width of the upper panel.