GB1595390A - Sliders - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SLIDERS (71) We, BOALLOY LIMITED, a British Company of Radnor Park Trading Estate, Congleton, Cheshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state ment:- This invention relates to sliders, especially sliders for movement along curtain tracks.

Sliders according to the present invention have particular but not exclusive use in the curtain-sided vans which are the subject of our United Kingdom Patents Nos.

1,262,879 and 1,262,880.

In our aforesaid Patents, the curtain closing the side of the van has along its length a number of spaced vertical sleeves, each accommodating a strap to the top of which is secured a slider movable along a curtain track secured along the top edge of the van. Through time and usage, sliders become worn and replacement is necessary and it is an object of the present invention to provide a slider which simplifies such replacement.

According to the present invention there is provided a slider adapted for movement along a track and comprising a suspension plate slotted intermediate its ends but nearer one end than the other and a slider plate slotted inwardly from one edge, the slider plate being inserted through the slot in the suspension plate so as to be perpendicularly thereto with the suspension plate engaged in its slot.

Thus, only the slider plate will be subjected to wear and can readily be replaced without requiring detachment of the slider in toto from the member, which may be a strap or otherwise, depending therefrom. For convenience only, reference is made hereinafter and in the claims to a strap.

Preferably, the suspension plate adjacent its other end is apertured or otherwise formed to facilitate securement thereto of a strap.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a slider according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the suspension plate; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the slider plate; Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating the projection of the suspension plate above the slider plate; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic transverse view of the slider in a track; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view corresponding to Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic longitudinal view corresponding to Fig. 5.

The slider comprises a suspension plate 10 and a slider plate 11. The plates may be of the same or different materials for example metal or plastics. It is preferred, however, that the slider plate 11 at least be of plastics material.

The suspension plate 10 has a vertical slot 12 intermediate its top and bottom ends but nearer its top end. Adjacent its bottom end is a hole 13 whereby a strap (not shown) can be attached thereto. There may be more than one hole 13, or the hole 13 may be replaced by a transverse slot.

The slider plate 11 has a vertical slot 14 extending inwardly from its top edge and extending for approximately half its height.

Various dimensions are marked on Figs.

1 to 4.

Dimension A of plate 10=dimension B of plate 11 plus assembly tolerance.

Dimension C of plate 10=dimension D of plate 11 minus the desired projection of plate 10 above plate 11 which is indicated at P in Fig. 4.

Dimension E of plate 10=dimension F of plate 11 plus assembly tolerance.

It can be seen that the slider is assembled by inserting slider plate 11 through slot 12 until slot 14 registers therewith then sliding slider plate 11 upwardly so that the sides of slot 14 frictionally engage the faces of suspension plate 10.

Removal of slider plate 11 for replacement pruposes is the reverse of the aforesaid procedure.

It can be seen from Fig. 4 that when the slider is mounted in a track 15, slider plate 11 will resist movement of the suspension plate 10 to either of the extreme inboard or outboard positions indicated in dotted lines.

Similarly, in Fig. 5, it can be seen that the slider plate 11 resists any extreme transverse twisting or pivotting movement of the suspension plate 11.

Any inclined pulling (Fig. 6) of the strap (not shown) is taken by the edge of the slider plate 11 without any detrimental wear on the suspension plate 10.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A slider adapted for movement along a track and comprising a suspension plate slotted intermediate its ends but nearer one end than the other end and a slider plate slotted inwardly from one edge, the slider plate being inserted through the slot in the suspension plate so as to lie perpendicularly thereto with the suspension plate engaged in its slot.

2. A slider as claimed in claim 1, in which the suspension plate adjacent its other end is apertured or otherwise formed to facilitate securement thereto of a strap.

3. A slider as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the two components are made of the same or different materials.

4. A slider as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the slide plate at least is formed of a plastics material.

5. A slider adapted for movement along a track, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Removal of slider plate 11 for replacement pruposes is the reverse of the aforesaid procedure. It can be seen from Fig. 4 that when the slider is mounted in a track 15, slider plate 11 will resist movement of the suspension plate 10 to either of the extreme inboard or outboard positions indicated in dotted lines. Similarly, in Fig. 5, it can be seen that the slider plate 11 resists any extreme transverse twisting or pivotting movement of the suspension plate 11. Any inclined pulling (Fig. 6) of the strap (not shown) is taken by the edge of the slider plate 11 without any detrimental wear on the suspension plate 10. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A slider adapted for movement along a track and comprising a suspension plate slotted intermediate its ends but nearer one end than the other end and a slider plate slotted inwardly from one edge, the slider plate being inserted through the slot in the suspension plate so as to lie perpendicularly thereto with the suspension plate engaged in its slot.

2. A slider as claimed in claim 1, in which the suspension plate adjacent its other end is apertured or otherwise formed to facilitate securement thereto of a strap.

3. A slider as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the two components are made of the same or different materials.

4. A slider as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the slide plate at least is formed of a plastics material.

5. A slider adapted for movement along a track, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.