FR2843994A1 - Sliding door for garage has leaf formed from panels pivoted together and with lock to hold panels in same plane - Google Patents

Abstract

The sliding door moves between a horizontal open and a vertical closed position. The door leaf (11) is made of panels (14) extending transversely the whole length of the leaf and pivoted together. The door has stops (36) for at least one pivot between two panels to hold them in a coplanar orientation. The stop can be integrated into the leaf guides for movement between open and closed conditions.

Description

The invention relates to a leaf for a sectional door, intended to close

  an opening of a construction, and a door comprising such a leaf, such as a

garage door.

  The leaf of sectional doors is generally composed of panels extending transversely over the entire width of the leaf, two panels

  adjacent being articulated to each other.

  In the closed position, the leaf is substantially vertical and closes the opening, and in the open position, it is substantially horizontal, and for example located under the

ceiling, in construction.

  To open the door, the leaf is moved vertically, the upper panel swivels from the vertical position to the horizontal position, while the next panel remains vertical. This is made possible by the articulations between successive panels. Successively, the following panels - from the upper part of the leaf to its lower part will perform the same movement until the leaf is substantially

plane and horizontal.

  The leaf is guided between the closed position and the open position by lateral rollers fixed to each articulation between two adjacent panels by roller supports, said rollers cooperating with rails.

  lateral guides linked to a frame fixed to the construction.

  Such doors therefore require the use of numerous rollers and roller supports, hence a significant cost. In addition, the assembly time is found

  considerably increased, which is not desirable.

  This problem can be solved by the use of panels of greater height, the leaf then having less articulations, and therefore requiring a

  fewer guide pieces.

  However, the use of very high panels does not make it possible to manufacture leaves whose height can be adjusted so as to suit

  the whole range of heights of construction openings.

  It would then be necessary to add a smaller panel to the leaf in order to adapt the height of said leaf to the height of the opening considered. A relatively large set of panels of different heights should therefore be provided depending on the desired height of the leaf. This would turn out

  extremely expensive, especially in tools and storage.

  The invention aims to solve these problems.

  To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a leaf for a sectional door, intended to close an opening of a construction and which can be guided between a closed position, in which the leaf is substantially

  vertical, and an open position, in which the leaf is substantially horizontal, said leaf comprising a plurality of panels extending transversely over the entire width of said leaf, said panels comprising reciprocal articulation means allowing the mutual articulation of two adjacent panels.

  According to a general definition of the invention, the leaf further comprises a system for blocking at least one articulation between two adjacent panels

  in a position where said two panels are substantially coplanar.

  Thus, the invention makes it possible to considerably reduce the number of necessary guide parts (rollers and roller supports) and the associated mounting time, since the number of effective articulations, requiring such parts

guide, is reduced.

  In addition, it is possible to use small panels, associated with each other, so as to create a leaf of the desired height, without

  as much increase the number of guide pieces.

  Thanks to the invention, a limited number of panels of different sizes is sufficient

  to cover the whole range of heights desired.

  In order to obtain a sectional door, the leaf has at least one unblocked articulation between two adjacent panels. The blocking system can integrate means for guiding the leaf between the

  closed position and open position.

  In addition, the blocking system can be placed outside the leaf and secure at least two adjacent panels in the vicinity of their two lateral edges. The blocking system is for example arranged to reinforce the

panels that it secures.

  Thus, the blocking system can form means for reinforcing the leaf, the latter therefore being able to be substantially devoid of internal reinforcement means, this

  which simplifies the assembly of the leaf and reduces its cost.

  By "inside the leaf" is meant in the structure of the leaf, especially if the latter is hollow. The expression "outside the leaf" means that the locking system is an attached part coming

position on the leaf.

  The invention makes it possible to provide the leaf with a locking system which can furthermore have a support function for other parts and a reinforcement function, this thus avoiding tedious mounting or requiring the fixing of

many rooms.

  This is particularly advantageous in the case of a leaf whose panels 30 are made of plastic. Indeed, the fixing of parts directly in the plastic material proves unsatisfactory, and the leaf devoid of

  interior reinforcements would not have the required strength.

  According to a possible embodiment, the locking system comprises at least one bar having a U-shaped section, said bar being placed longitudinally at a lateral edge of the leaf so as to surround an extreme lateral part of a set of at least two adjacent panels in the vicinity of their 5 articulation, the bottom of the U covering the edge of said panels, a first branch of the U being adjacent to a first side of the panels and a second branch of the U being adjacent to a second side of the panels, the height of

  said bar being less than the height of the leaf.

  For example, the locking system comprises three pairs of bars, the two bars of the same couple surrounding the opposite lateral end portions of at least two adjacent panels, so that the leaf has three

  effective panels and two effective joints.

  According to other characteristics, the panels are hollow and include an inner wall and an outer wall, the guide means being fixed to a panel by means of the blocking system, so that a wall of said panel is taken sandwiched between part of said means of

  guide and part of said blocking system.

  For example, each panel of the leaf is made of a material belonging to the group formed by opaque plastics, translucent plastics, wood and metal. The panels can be made of different materials or different colors in order to obtain various aesthetic effects.

  According to the invention, each panel of the leaf is made from a plastic profile, said profile being chosen from an assembly consisting of two

profiles of different heights.

  Thus, only two profiles are necessary to cover substantially the whole range of leaf heights. This results in a considerable gain in terms of

  manufacturing and storage costs.

  Each profile can be in one piece and include a middle part, substantially parallelepiped, a first end part having a longitudinal groove, and a second end part comprising a longitudinal tube capable of cooperating with the groove of an adjacent profile so as to allow the mutual articulation of two adjacent panels.

  Finally, according to a second aspect, the invention relates to a sectional door comprising two lateral guide rails intended to be fixed to the structure of a construction at the level of an opening of said construction, as well as a leaf as above. described, the leaf being able to be guided by the rails between a closed position, in which the leaf closes the opening, and a

open position.

  The other characteristics of the invention result from the following description of an embodiment, description made with reference to the appended figures

  in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sectional door according to the invention, the leaf being in an intermediate position between the closed position and the open position; - Figure 2 is a sectional view of a first profile for making a panel of the door leaf of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a sectional view of a second profile for making a panel of the door leaf of Figure 1; - Figure 4 is a sectional view of profiles of Figures 2 and 3 assembled; - Figure 5 is a perspective view of an assembly of two panels of a leaf held integral by two locking bars, a corner of said assembly having been cut; - Figure 6 is an enlarged view of detail A of Figure 5; - Figure 7 is a view along arrow VII of Figure 5; - Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5, roller supports being associated with the locking bars; - Figure 9 is a view along arrow IX of Figure 8; - Figure 10 is an enlarged view of detail B of Figure 8; - Figure 11 is a sectional view along the line XI-XI of Figure 9; - Figure 12 is an enlarged view of detail C of Figure 8; - Figure 13 is a sectional view of the profile of Figure 3 associated with a low profile of the leaf; - Figure 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of the door of Figure I; - Figure 15 is an enlarged view of a joint between two panels

  adjacent to a leaf with two locking bars.

  We first refer to FIG. 1 which represents a sectional door 1,

such as a garage door.

  A first direction D1, substantially vertical, is defined with respect to which the terms "longitudinal", "height", "lower" will be used,

" superior ".

  The door 1 comprises a frame 2, intended: to be fixed to the structure of a construction at an opening of said construction. The frame 2 itself comprises two vertical uprights 3, 4 and a crosspiece

  upper 5 substantially horizontal.

  A second direction D2 is defined, substantially parallel to the cross-member 5, with respect to which the terms "lateral", "transverse", "width" will be used, as well as a third direction D3 such as (D1, D2, D3) form a

orthogonal coordinate system.

  The door 1 is also provided with two lateral guide rails 10. Each guide rail 10 forms an angle and comprises a first part fixed to an upright 3, 4 and a second part 7, 8, extending in the direction D3

from the top rail 5.

  The door 1 further comprises a rear cross member 9, parallel to the upper cross member 5, connecting the ends of the second parts 7, 8 of the rails 10 not linked to the uprights 3, 4. The second parts 7, 8 of the rails 10 and the cross member rear 9 are intended to be fixed to the ceiling inside I of the construction. The door 1 further comprises a leaf 11 intended to close the opening of the construction. The leaf 11 comprises guide means (roller supports 12 and 5 rollers 13) cooperating with the side rails 10, so that the leaf 11 can be moved between a closed position, in which the leaf is substantially vertical and closes the opening, and an open position, in which the leaf is substantially horizontal, and located under the construction ceiling, inside I

of it.

  The balancing of the door 1 is carried out by a system of shaft and springs, not shown. The leaf 11 comprises a plurality of panels 14 extending transversely over the entire width of the leaf 11. As will be described later, the panels 14 comprise reciprocal articulation means to allow the pivoting of a panel relative to the panel adjacent during

  opening or closing the door 1.

  Each panel 14 is produced from a hollow monobloc profile made of plastic, for example PVC. Only two sections 15, 16 are used for the production of all the panels 14 of the leaf 11. The first section 15, shown in section in FIG. 2, has a higher height.

  important than the second profile 16, shown in section in FIG. 3.

  Each profile 15, 16 comprises an interior wall 17 which is substantially planar, intended to be placed inside the construction I, and an exterior wall 18 curved, generally parallel to the interior wall 17, intended to be placed outside E construction. The outer wall 18 of the first profile 15 is hollow, while the outer wall 18 of the second profile 16 is curved.

  Each profile 15, 16 thus comprises a central part 19 substantially

  parallelepiped, one side of which is hollow or curved.

  One or more internal reinforcement walls 20 are provided perpendicularly

  to the inner 17 and outer 18 walls.

  The sections 15, 16 further comprise a first end part 21, 5 intended to form the upper part of a panel 14. The first end part 21 has a longitudinal groove 22, open opposite the middle part 19, and having an arcuate section covering an angle

from around 180 to 230.

  The ends of the walls of the groove 22 are offset in height one by

  relative to the other, the end situated towards the external wall 18 of the profile 15, 16 being higher than the end situated towards the internal wall 17 of the profile 15, 16. Thus, on the one hand, the wall of the groove 22 located towards the outer wall 18 of the profile 15, 16 forms a projecting beak, and, on the other hand, the opening of the groove 22 15 is oriented slightly towards the inner wall 17.

  In addition, the ends of the walls of the groove 22 each form a fold 23,

  24 towards the inside of said groove 22.

  In the vicinity of the groove 22, the outer wall 18 of the profile 15, 16 forms a

recess 25.

  Furthermore, at the level of the first end portion 21, the interior wall 17 comprises a first portion, extending in continuity with the interior wall 25 of the middle portion 19 and forming a projection 26, and a second portion 27, extending substantially parallel to the direction of the wall

  inner 17 of the middle part 19, set back towards the outer wall 18.

  Between the projection 26 and the second recessed portion 27 is thus formed a groove 28, open upwards, and provided with internal teeth 29 arranged on

projection 26.

  The roles of the folds 23, 24, the recess 25, the groove 28 and the

  teeth 29 will be explained later.

  Finally, the sections 15, 16 include a second end portion 30,

  intended to form the lower part of a panel 14.

  The second end portion 30 firstly comprises a substantially parallelepipedal portion 31 extending from the middle portion 19 and in extension thereof. The distance between the inner 17 and outer 18 walls of the profile 15, 16 at the level of the parallelepipedic portion 31 is less than that existing at the middle portion 19, for example of

  the order of half or two thirds.

  As an extension of the parallelepiped portion 31, the second end portion 30 comprises a longitudinal tube 32 whose center is located substantially in extension of the inner wall 17 of the parallelepiped portion 31, and whose diameter is close to half the distance 15 between the inner 17 and outer 18 walls of the profile 15, 16 at the middle part 19. The tube 32 has longitudinal external projections 33, substantially diametrically opposite, and extending substantially parallel to the internal reinforcement walls 20 in the vicinity of the

center of the tube.

  The tube 32 of the first profile 15 includes internal reinforcements 34, while the tube 32 of the second profile 16 does not have it, in particular to save

of the material.

  Finally, the outer wall 18 of the section 15, 16 is extended beyond the parallelepipedic portion 31, substantially as far as the projections 33, so that a groove 35 is formed between the parallelepipedic portion 31, the wall

18 and the tube 32.

  As in the case of the first end portion 21, a groove 28 exists between a projection 26 located in extension of the interior wall 17 of the profile 15, 16 and a recessed portion 27 of said interior wall 17. The groove 28 is located on the middle part 19, in the vicinity of the parallelepiped portion 31 of the second end part 30. The groove 28 is open downwards and includes internal teeth 29 arranged on the

projection 26.

  The end parts 21, 30 of the sections 15, 16 may also include internal reinforcing walls. The walls of the sections 15, 16 have a thickness of the order of 0.8 to 1.5 mm. The height of the first profile 15 is of the order of 250 to 350 mm, and the height of the second profile 16 of the order of 100 to 200 mm. The total thickness 10 of the profiles 15, 16 - between the inner wall 17 and the outer wall 18 is

close to 40 mm.

  Each panel 14 is produced by cutting one of the sections 15, 16 at the

desired dimension.

  The cooperation of adjacent panels 14 will now be described, with reference to FIG. 4, on which is shown a middle panel 14a, produced from the second profile 16, associated with each of its upper and lower end portions with an upper panel 14b and lower 14c, both made from 20 of the first profile 15.

  The tube 32 of a profile 15, 16 is able to cooperate with the groove 22 of an adjacent profile 15, 16, so as to allow the mutual articulation of two adjacent panels 14. Thus, the tube 32 is housed in the groove 22, while the wall of the groove 22 located towards the outer wall 18 of the profile 15, 16 is

housed in the throat 35.

  The end parts 21, 30 of each profile 15, 16 have reciprocal means making it possible to limit the amplitude of the mutual articulation movement 30 of two adjacent panels, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

  On the one hand, the articulation movement of the lower panel 14c is limited with respect to the median panel 14a anticlockwise by the cooperation of the fold 24 with a projection 33 and of the outer wall 18

with the recess 25.

  On the other hand, the articulation movement of the upper panel 14b is limited 5 relative to the middle panel 14a in the clockwise direction by the cooperation of the fold 23 with the other of the projections 33.

  It should be noted that the sections 15, 16 are designed to prevent a user from pinching their fingers when the panels 14 are pivoted relative to one another.

  Several panels 14 are associated in this way in order to form the leaf 11.

  The number of panels 14 produced from the first profile 15 and the number of panels 14 produced from the second profile 16 are determined by

  depending on the desired total height of the leaf 11.

  One of the profiles, for example the second profile 16, can be made of translucent plastic material, so as to allow an entry of light into the construction when the leaf is in the closed position. Other materials (aluminum, wood, etc.) or other colors can be used to obtain

various aesthetic effects.

  In order to avoid too many joints of the leaf 11, the invention provides a locking system, which is now described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 15.

  The locking system comprises a set of bars 36 intended to be fixed to the panels 14 and to secure at least two panels 14 adjacent to the vicinity of their lateral edges. A bar 36 has a U-shaped section comprising a bottom 37, a first branch 38 and a second branch 39 extending from the bottom 37 over a distance less than the distance over which the first branch 38 extends,

for example half.

  The bar 36 comprises, in the vicinity of each of its ends, a longitudinal slot 40 formed in the bottom 37 of the U, towards the first branch 38, said slot 40 being intended to receive part of the guide means of the

  leaf 11 between the closed position and the open position.

  The bar 36 is placed longitudinally at a lateral edge of the leaf 11, so as to surround an extreme lateral part with a set of at least two panels 14 adjacent to their articulation. The bottom 37 of the U covers the edge of the panels 14, the first branch 38 of the U is adjacent to the interior wall 17 of the panels 14, and the second branch 39 of the U is adjacent to the exterior wall 18 of the panels 14. The articulation between the panels 14 is thus blocked, in a position where said panels 14 are

substantially coplanar.

  The height of the bar 36 is less than the height of the shutter! 11, and

  substantially equal to the height of the set of panels 14 which it surrounds.

  The upper end part and the lower end part of the bar 36 are arranged so that the adjacent end parts of two adjacent bars 36 can cooperate in the vicinity of a joint between two

  panels 14 and authorize the mutual articulation of said panels 14.

  To this end, as shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 15, the upper end part of the bar 36 has a notch 41, and the lower end part 25 has a rounded prominence 42 able to cooperate with

  the notch 41 of an adjacent bar 36.

  The bar 36 is placed on the set of panels 14 which it surrounds so that the groove 22 of the upper panel 14 of the assembly protrudes above the notch 41 and that the tube 32 of the lower panel 14 of the together is opposite the rounded prominence 42. The pivoting of a panel 14 relative to an adjacent panel 14 is thus not hampered by the adjacent bars 36. According to the embodiment shown, the locking system comprises three pairs of bars 36, the two bars 36 of the same couple surrounding the opposite lateral end portions of at least two adjacent panels 14, so that the leaf 11 has three 14 effective panels and two 5 effective joints (see Figure 14). The bars 36 here secure two or

three panels 14.

  The locking system also includes means for guiding the leaf 11

  between the closed position and the open position.

  For this purpose, the roller supports 12 have the shape of an L comprising: - a first branch 43 able to be introduced inside a panel 14 through the slot of the bar 36 so that the inner wall 17 of the panel 14 is sandwiched between the first branch 43 of the roller support 12 i. and the first branch 38 of the U-shaped bar 36; - And a second branch 44, projecting towards the outside of the leaf 11, capable of carrying a roller 13 for guiding the leaf 11 between the closed position and the

open position.

  Fixing means, such as screws 45, allow the inner wall 17 of the panel 14, the roller support 12 and the bar 36 to be secured (FIG. 11). A screwing of the roller supports 12 directly into the panel 14 would not be satisfactory, insofar as the panel 14 is produced from a

  15.16 hollow plastic profile.

  Other roller supports 12, for example those intended to be placed at the lower end of the leaf 11, further comprise a third branch 46, substantially parallel to the first branch 43, said third branch 46 being intended to be placed at the outside of the panel 14, 30 substantially in contact with the first branch 38 of the U-shaped bar 36 (see

Figures 8 and 12).

  Furthermore, the leaf 11 may also include a lower section 47 capable of cooperating with the lower end part of the leaf 11, and intended to receive

a seal 48 (Figures 9, 13).

  The lower section 48 has a longitudinal housing 49 intended to receive the tube 32 of the lower panel 14 of the leaf 11 and to cooperate with it. In addition, the lower profile 48 has a projecting wall 50 extending from the housing 49 towards the lower panel 14 and intended to be engaged in the groove 28 of the second end portion 30 of said panel 14, the fixing being provided by the teeth 29. Finally, the lower section 48 has a groove 51,

  open downwards, intended to receive the seal 48.

  A high profile (not shown) may also be provided to cooperate with the groove 22 of the upper panel 14 of the leaf 11. In addition, the door 1 may be provided with a lock intended to allow the locking of the leaf 11 in the closed position. . In Figure 14 is shown a door 1 whose leaf 11 is in a

  intermediate position between the closed position and the open position.

  The two lower panels 14 are joined by a first pair of bars 36, the two middle panels 14 are joined by a second pair of bars 36, and the three upper panels 14 - two panels 14 made from the first section 15 and a panel produced from the second profile 16 - are joined by a third pair of bars 36.

  The roller supports 12 are integrated into the bars 36, and are associated with the rollers 13 which cooperate with the rails 10 for the movement of the leaf 11

  between the closed position and the open position.

  The leaf 11 thus comprises three effective panels and two effective joints. The size of the leaf 11 during its movement is greater than that of a known sectional door, but the gain in cost and time of

editing is very important.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to this particular embodiment. One could in particular block some of the articulations of the leaf 11 in a different way, or in different places, for example by screws placed at the

level of joints.

Claims (15)

  1. Leaf for sectional door (1), intended to close an opening of a construction and capable of being guided between a closed position, in which the leaf (11) is substantially vertical, and an open position, in which the leaf ( 11) is substantially horizontal, said leaf (11) comprising a plurality of panels (14) extending transversely over the entire width of said leaf (11), said panels (14) comprising reciprocal articulation means (22, 32) allowing the mutual articulation 10 of two adjacent panels (14), characterized in that it further comprises a locking system (36) of at least one articulation between two adjacent panels (14) in a position o said two panels (14) are substantially coplanar.   2. Leaf according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking system (36) incorporates guide means (12, 13) of the leaf (1 1) between the   closed position and open position.   3. Leaf according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the blocking system (36) is placed outside the leaf (11) and in that it secures at least two panels (14) adjacent to the neighborhood of their two side edges.   4. Leaf according to claim 3, characterized in that the blocking system (36) is arranged to reinforce the panels (14) which it secures.   5. Leaf according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that   that the locking system comprises at least one bar (36) having a U-shaped section, said bar (36) being placed longitudinally at a lateral edge of the leaf (11) so as to surround an extreme lateral part of a set of '' at least two panels (14) adjacent to their articulation, the bottom (37) of the U covering the edge of said panels (14), a first branch (38) of the U being adjacent to a first side (17) of the panels (14) and a second branch (39) of the U being adjacent to a   second side (18) of the panels (14), the height of said bar (36) being less than the height of the leaf (11).   6. Leaf according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking system comprises three pairs of bars (36), the two bars (36) of a   same torque surrounding the opposite lateral end portions of at least two adjacent panels (14), so that the leaf (11) has three effective panels and two effective joints.   7. leaf according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the bar (36) has a height substantially equal to the height of the set of panels (14) which it surrounds, and in that it comprises a part upper end (41) and a lower end part (42) arranged so that the adjacent end parts (41, 42) of two adjacent bars (36) -: is. can cooperate in the vicinity of a joint between two panels (14)   -. . - and authorize articulation. mutual of said panels (14).   8. leaf according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the panels (14) are hollow and include an inner wall (17) and an outer wall (18), and in that the guide means (12, 13)   are fixed to a panel (14) by means of the locking system (36), so that a wall (17) of said panel (14) is sandwiched between a part of said guide means (12) and a part (38) of said blocking system (36).   9. leaf according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the bar (36) comprises a slot (40) longitudinal formed in the bottom (37) of the U, said slot (40) being intended to receive a part of the guide means (12) of the leaf (11) between the closed position and the open position.   10. Leaf according to claim 9, characterized in that the panels (14) are hollow and include an inner wall (17) and an outer wall (18), and in that the leaf (11) comprises at least one support for roller (12), said roller support (12) having the shape of an L, a first branch (43) of said L being able to be inserted inside a panel (14) through the slot (40) of the bar (36) so that a wall (17) of said panel (14) is sandwiched between said first branch (43) 5 of the roller support (12) and the first branch (38) of the bar ( 36) in a U, and a second branch (44) of said L, projecting towards the outside of the leaf (11), being capable of carrying a roller (13) for guiding said leaf (11) between the   closed position and open position.   11. Leaf according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that   that each panel (14) of said leaf (11) is made of a material belonging to the group formed by opaque plastics, the   translucent plastics, wood and metal.   1.5 12. Leaf according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that   that each panel (14) of said leaf (11) is produced from a plastic profile, said profile being chosen from an assembly consisting of   two profiles (15,16) of different heights.   13. Leaf according to claim 12, characterized in that each profile (15, 16) is in one piece and comprises a middle part (19), substantially parallelepiped, a first end part (21) having a longitudinal groove (22), and a second end part (30) comprising a longitudinal tube (32) able to cooperate with the groove (22) of an adjacent section (15, 16) 25 so as to allow the mutual articulation of two adjacent panels (14). 14. Leaf according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the end parts (21, 30) of each profile (15, 16) have reciprocal means (23, 24, 33, 25, 18) making it possible to limit the amplitude of   movement of mutual articulation of two adjacent panels (14).   15. Leaf according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that   that it further comprises a lower profile (47) capable of cooperating with the lower end portion of said leaf (11), said lower profile (47) being intended to receive a seal (48).   16. Sectional door comprising two lateral guide rails (10) intended to be fixed to the structure of a construction at an opening of   said construction, characterized in that it comprises a leaf (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, said leaf (11) being able to be guided by said rails (10) between a closed position, in which the   leaf (11) closes the opening, and an open position.