EP2357306B1

EP2357306B1 - Universal counterframe for retractable sliding door panel

Info

Publication number: EP2357306B1
Application number: EP10014960.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luigi De Faveri
Original assignee: Eclisse SRL
Current assignee: Eclisse SRL
Priority date: 2010-02-12
Filing date: 2010-11-24
Publication date: 2017-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2030-11-24
Also published as: EP2357306A2; IT1398111B1; EP2357306A3; ITTV20100011A1

Description

This invention relates to a universal counter-frame for retractable sliding door panel, for plasterboard walls or plaster walls, essentially of the type made of metallic sections and wood finishing elements, assemblable to one another, particularly in assembly kits.

Domain of the invention

Manual skills and the need to contain costs of both purchase of the product and installation in a process for finishing and arrangement of interiors, are the factors which generally lead the user to the do-it-yourself. For this reason, in the fields of non complex building industry and window and door frames, the so-called assembly kits have caught on and are now widely used and appreciated, so much that stores have arisen for selling articles of this kind and suitably equipped for the do-it-yourself.
A common feature of the assembly kit is substantially its universality, that is the possibility to adapt to different sizes of the place aimed at the installation of the product, its versatility, that is the possibility of being used independently of the finishing and of the place of destination, the easiness and comfort of assembly, therefore it is particularly suitable also for not necessarily expert people, and finally usable at a low cost and with a good technical result. In the field of the do-it-yourself, in conclusion, there are several products suitable for the building section and usable in assembly kits, however counter-frame universal kits are not known to the applicant for window or door frames, in particular for sliding door panel in the installation of a retractable sliding door.

Prior art

Window and door frames of sliding type are known since long and find broad use in the building structures in which an optimal exploitation of the spaces is intended also using the surface which otherwise should be reserved to allow the opening of a conventional panel door on hinges. Generally, the sliding doors of retractable type include a fixed element, consisting of the counter-frame, which is intended to be integrated in the load-bearing structure, and a movable element, the door panel which is able to slide with respect to the counter-frame entering the large case of the counter-frame up to the opening position. Also the rabbet stanchion is an integral part of the counter-frame, and it is intended to be anchored to the wall at the vertical profile of the doorcase opposite to the one for positioning said case or large case, in such a way as to allow the door itself to go into abutment against it when it is in the closing position.
Along the upper side of the counter-frame which is immediately above the large case and the opening interaxis width, a longitudinal guide or track is engaged. In order to allow the effective opening and closing movement of the sliding door, a sliding track or guide is therefore conventionally present to which the sliding door panel is suspended, by means of convenient trolley means.
In principle, it is observed that until today the conventional counter-frame is offered to the public and distributed in a partially assembled way. This aspect in particular refers to the counter-frame solution for the masonry or plaster version, where it is substantially offered to the public in a package with the assembled case, while the stanchions, the crosspiece, the track, the rabbet jamb and other components are disassembled. In the same way, the packaging of the counter-frame for the plasterboard version integrates the case consisting of a series of omega-shaped metallic profiles which are joined on one side and on the other defining the case space, each one engaged to the corresponding stanchion. So for example, a technical solution of counter-frame is described in IT01247365 (De Faveri). It includes a large case obtained by means of the connection of two pre-shaped parallel sheets associated to each other, in correspondence of one side, along the vertical profile, a base crosspiece and an outer-casing profile as a support base for said large case whose lower ends are engaged to the outer-casing profile. The counter-frame also includes a longitudinal guide-supporting upper crosspiece, associable to said large case, supported on the opposite side by at least one stanchion defining the door width, on one side bearing said longitudinal guide, on the other side being anchored to the base crosspiece, finally comprising transverse anchoring means of at least one net to the large case which are associated to it by means of riveting.
Recently, some firms of the sector understood the need to offer the public a counter-frame for sliding doors capable to better meet the needs of the consumers, and have suggested the so called kit solutions. An example can be found on the website www.mito.it, in which a counter-frame model for plasterboard called Comprex is advertised whose particular characteristic appears to be the fixing system of the small crosspieces in the building of the case which requires a particular connecting joint. It is conventionally provided with back stanchion, front stanchions or profiles, crosspiece, track, rabbet stanchion and rabbet jamb. Finally the ensemble is also provided with some spacers, which are useful during the installation phase of the counter-frame.
Considering all this one can reasonably affirm that,

built-in door frames are known which are provided with counter-frame essentially with case, stanchions, crosspiece, track, rabbet jamb and sliding door-panel;
counter-frames are known, for plaster or plasterboard, for retractable sliding door, marketed in such a way that, in a packaged condition, the case is preassembled with stanchion, crosspiece, track, and rabbet jamb separated from said case, in such a way that their assembly is carried out in situ;
counter-frames for plasterboard are known offered as assembly kits.

Furthermore, a significant problem related to the solution of counter-frames offered with the preassembled case, is their bulkiness. Objectively, it is quite important, and particularly it affects both their transport and their storage, said products are thus not suitable to be marketed in shopping centres for bricolage or do-it-yourself.
Document US 3 049 765 A (ELMORE HARRY M; 21 August 1962 ) discloses a counter-frame for retractable sliding door comprising the features according to the preamble of claim 1.
Considering the above, there is the need to identify alternative and more functional solutions with respect to the current ones.
An aim of this invention is also to avoid the described drawbacks.

Brief description of the object of the invention

This invention relates to a universal counter-frame for retractable sliding door panel, which can be modified during the installation phase, with the aim of obtaining different passage opening possibilities. Said counter-frame is also equipped with an adjustable jamb for closing with integrated edge covers and for guiding the door, adjustable as well for more glass or wood door panel thicknesses, where said counter-frame comprises at least one back stanchion and one front stanchion joined to each other by small crosspieces, and on the upper part by a crosspiece which supports a guide track, said crosspiece being capable to be joined at one end to the rabbet stanchion, and where at least the crosspiece, the track, the small crosspieces, and the spacer can be cut to length being provided with reference pre-cuts, and furthermore in which the jambs include at least the cross jamb which can be cut to length.

Aims

In this way through the remarkable creative contribution whose effect has allowed to reach a considerable technical progress, some significant aims and advantages are achieved.
The main aim of the solution object of this invention is substantially to make available a counter-frame for sliding door panel, being of universal type, that is particularly suitable to be cut to length into the components directly by the user according to the passage opening need as well as to have a door guide of adjustable type in such a way as to be configured for more glass or wood door panel thicknesses.
A further aim was to realize an assembly which is modular and counter-frame - door panel - rabbet stanchion, characterized by an appreciably contained weight and made by a limited number of pieces and of relative fixing elements. The peculiarity of supplying the case in a non assembled way since the beginning, thus being less bulky, makes the universal counter-frame specially suitable to be transported and stored, and as a consequence it is particularly appreciated for the do-it-yourself centres.
Finally an important aim was to obtain a product which is robust, stable during the installation, of economical construction and reproducible on a large industrial scale.
These and other advantages will appear from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments, with the aid of the enclosed schematic drawings whose details of execution are not to be considered limitative but only illustrative.

Contents of the drawings

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the counter-frame according to the invention, without the jambs and edge cover;
Figure 2 is a view of the counter-frame of Figure 1 in an assembled condition;
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the jambs the counter-frame of Figure 1 is provided with;
Figure 4 is a view of the jambs of Figure 3, shown in an assembled condition.
Figures 5 to 10 represent different configurations of an adjustable door guiding device.

Practical realization of the invention

The object of this invention is a universal counter-frame for retractable sliding door panel which can be easily assembled.
In particular, in Fig. 1 and 2 an exploded view of the counter-frame (10) is shown, which, as it can be understood by the represented components, essentially consists of a crosspiece (100), a track (110) which can be joined to said crosspiece (100), a couple of front stanchions (120, 121), and a back stanchion (130), which are connected to each other by means of said crosspiece (100) and small side crosspieces (140) which are parallel to each other and coplanar on the same lying plane for each one of the two faces of the counter-frame (10), in such a way as to define the relative case space which is capable to house the door panel. Said crosspiece (100) can be also joined at the opposite end with respect to the joining end to the case, at the upper end of the rabbet stanchion (150) defining with the rabbet jamb (160) the passage opening between said rabbet jamb (160) and the vertical front edge covers (170) which can be joined to the corresponding front stanchions (120,121). In this case it is observed that at least the crosspiece (100), the track (110), the small side crosspieces (140), and the spacer or template (200) can be cut to length being provided with pre-cuts or nickings, but also with reference notches. In the same way the rabbet jamb (160) and the edge covers (170, 180, 190) which integrate the brush-holder, are cut to length being provided with the pre-cuts or nickings, but also with simple reference notches placed according to the most common sizes. More in detail, in correspondence of the crosspiece (100) precut like works, nickings, but also simple reference notches (101, 102, 103, 104) are arranged, whose aim is to facilitate the shortening of said crosspiece (100) obtaining various passage opening measures. The same method has been used for the small side crosspieces (140) with the pre-cuts, nickings or also notches (141, 142, 143, 144) and as we have seen for the spacer (200). The function of the spacer (200), once inserted into the special pocket (151) of the rabbet stanchion (150) and into the pocket (122) which joins the front stanchions (120, 121) of the counter-frame (10), is to allow to maintain the same distance of the passage opening upper part in the lower part. Also in this case the spacer or template (200) can be shortened to length since it is provided with pre-cuts, nickings or also notches (201, 202, 203, 204) aimed at allowing the most comfortable and easy shortening. The same prearrangement for the shortening can be made for the vertical components, such as the rabbet stanchion (150), the front stanchions (120,121) and the back stanchion (130) thus obtaining various possibilities of passage opening measures also in height in the vertical sense. Using two counter-frames (10) for single door, a counter-frame for double door can be obtained, in this case by eliminating the rabbet stanchion (150) in both counter-frames (10) and using the joint/support (300), see Fig. 2, breaking it into two parts along the working (301), to join the two crosspieces (100) in the end point (105) and the other joint/support (300) divided into two parts along the working (301), fixing it to the crosspiece (100) in the opening part (302) as a support by means of the fin (303) for the plasterboard plates placed as finishing closing elements.
As for Figures 3 and 4 a disassembled view of the rabbet jamb (160) is represented with integrated edge covers (170, 180, 190) and brush-holder. The upper cross edge cover (180) consisting of the brush-holder (185) already assembled to the edge cover (180), is arranged by means of reference notches (181-182-183-184) for the shortening to obtain various passage opening measures and it is already trimmed with a 45 degree angle (186). The rabbet jamb (160) and the brush-holders with the integrated edge covers (190) are made to be supplied already assembled in a single piece, called complete rabbet stanchion (400) (Fig. 4), to facilitate and quicken the installation, in such a way that they can be shortened as well by cutting them in proximity of the reference notches prearranged in the lower part (401) to obtain various passage opening possibilities in height. The same goes for the brush-holders with frame-side integrated edge cover (170), prearranged for the shortening in the lower part as well (171), while in the upper part (172) they are already trimmed at 45 degrees as well as the complete rabbet stanchion (400) in the upper part (402), all this to obtain an easy and quick assembly, and with an excellent aesthetic result.
In the Figures 5 to 10, the universal door guiding device (500) is represented, this detail, which is "U" shaped, indeed allows to keep different types of slidable door panels in a guided condition and is easily fixed with self-tapping screws, by means of holes (501) placed on fins (502) at the base of the front stanchions (120) (Fig. 2) of the counter-frame (10). The universal door guiding device (500) is also provided with a small base (503), with respect to which the fins (502) are perpendicularly oriented, where said small base (503) is provided with a series of holes (504) intended to determine the selective positioning of the nib (600, 601, 602) according to the thickness or configuration of the door panel.
In the position of Fig. 5a the composition is shown which allows to keep in a guided condition, by means of central opposition, the sliding door panels having a thickness of 35-40-45mm, made of wood, plastic, metal or other, with central milling (P) obtained as per Figure 5b, under the lower edge of said door panels, screwing in this way by means of screw (700) the nib (600) on the small base (503) in the intermediate holes (504).
In the position of Fig. 6 the composition is shown which allows to keep in a guided condition, by means of side opposition means, the slidable door panels for example all glass, 8mm thick, screwing the two nibs (601) with the screws (700) on the small base (503) in the holes (504).
In the position of Fig. 7 the composition is shown which allows to keep in a guided condition, by means of side opposition means, the slidable door panels all glass 10mm thick, screwing the two nibs (601) with the screws (700) on the small base (503) in the holes (504).
In the position of Fig. 8 the composition is shown which allows to keep in a guided condition, by means of side opposition means, the slidable door panels, 35mm thick, made of wood, plastic, metal or other, screwing the two nibs (602) with the screws (700) on the small base (503) through the holes (504).
In the position of Fig. 9 the composition is shown which allows to keep in a guided condition, by means of side opposition, the slidable door panels, 40mm thick, made of wood, plastic, metal or other, screwing the two nibs (602) with the screws 700) on the small base (503) through the holes (504).
In the position of Fig. 10, finally the composition is shown which allows to keep in a guided condition, by means of side opposition, the slidable door panels, 45mm thick, made of wood, plastic, metal or other, screwing again the two nibs (602) with the screws (700) on the small base (503) through the holes (504).

References

(10): counter-frame
(100): crosspiece
(105): end
(110): track
(120, 121): front stanchions
(122): pocket
(130): back stanchion
(140): small side crosspieces
(150): rabbet stanchion
(151): pocket
(160): rabbet jamb
(170): vertical front edge cover
(171): lower part
(172): upper part
(180): transverse edge covers
(185): brush-holder
(190): rabbet jamb edge cover
(200): spacer
(101,: 102, 103, 104), (141, 142, 143, 144), (201, 202, 203, 204),
(181, 182, 183, 184): pre-cuts, nickings, reference notches
(186): 45 degree angle
(300): joint/support
(301): working
(302): opening part
(303): fin
(400): complete rabbet stanchion
(401): lower end
(500): universal door guiding device
(501): holes
(502): fins
(503): small base
(504): holes
(600, 601, 602): nib
(700): screw

Claims

Counter-frame (10) for retractable sliding door panel, comprising at least one back stanchion (130), front stanchions (120,121) crosspieces (100, 140), a guide track (110) a rabbet jamb (160) and edge covers (170, 180, 190), wherein said back stanchion (130) and said front stanchions (120, 121) are joined to each other by small crosspieces (140) intended to define the case space of the door panel, and on the upper part by a crosspiece (100) which supports the guide track (110) wherein the crosspiece (100), the guide track (110), the small crosspieces (140), the back stanchion (130), the front stanchions (120,121), and the rabbet jamb (160) can be cut to length being provided with cutting reference notches in predetermined positions in such a way as to obtain multiple passage opening possibilities, the counter-frame (10) being provided with at least one door guidance device (500) which can be joined at the lower part of the front stanchions (120,121), said door guidance device (500) being "U" shaped and being provided with a small base (503) with respect to which fins (502) are perpendicularly oriented, said door guidance device (500) being fixed at the base of the front stanchions (120,121) by means of holes (501) placed on said fins (502), characterised in that said counter-frame (10) further comprises edge covers (170, 180, 190) with integrated brush holder and a spacer (200), wherein said edge covers (170, 180, 190) and the spacer (200) can be cut to length being provided with cutting reference notches in predetermined positions in such a way as to obtain multiple passage opening possibilities, the upper cross edge covers (180) consisting of the brush-holder (185) being already assembled to the edge cover (180), and being arranged by means of reference notches (181,182,183,184) for the shortening to obtain various passage opening measures and being already trimmed with a 45 degree angle (186), the rabbet jamb (160) and the brush-holders with the integrated edge covers (190) being already assembled in a single piece to form a complete rabbet stanchion (400), and the brush holders with frame-side integrated edge covers (170) being prearranged for the shortening in the lower part (171) as well while in the upper part (172) they are already trimmed at 45 degrees as well as the complete rabbet stanchion (400) in the upper part, the universal door guidance device (500) being adjustable and said small base (503) is provided with a series of holes (504) intended to determine the selective position of nibs (600,601,602) to be adjusted to the sizes of the door panel in such a way as to keep said sliding door panel in a guided condition.
Counter-frame (10) for retractable sliding door panel, according to the claim 1, characterised in that the crosspiece (100) has at least one joint (300), broken into two parts, to join two crosspieces (100) in the end point (105).