GB2158496A - Frame for patio doors - Google Patents

Abstract

A sliding door assembly especially for patio doors has a main frame 5 defining inner 7 and outer 6 parallel tracks, and a detachable trim strip and door retaining member 15 defining the inner edge of the inner track. The main frame is preferably formed from identical top, bottom and side frame members each of which comprises a one piece section defining said parallel tracks and incorporating an integral projection 8 forming a divider adapted to extend between and separate doors 9, 10 located in respective ones of said tracks. <IMAGE>

Description

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SPECIFICATION

Patio door constructions This invention relates to door constructions and is, especially, but not exclusively, applicable to patio doors.

Previously proposed patio door constructions suffer from a numberof disadvantages. In particularframe components of complex construction are utilised and different components have hitherto been utilised at the bottom, sides and in somecasestop, oftheframe construction. Moreoverin many cases the frame components have been relatively bulky and unsightly when installed, and complex door mounting and running gear has been required.

Itis an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least some of these disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a frame componentforthe outer or main frame of a sliding door assembly, theframe component comprising a one-piece section defining parallel inner and outertracks and a dividerformed integrally therewith between said tracks and adapted to extend between and separate doors housed in the respective tracks.

Theframe component is preferably of metal construction to provide rigidity and is preferably provided with formations adapted to receive a detachable trim strip and door retaining mem ber at the in ner edge of the inner one of said tracks whereby a door may be moved generally horizontally into engagementwith said innertrack with said trim strip removed and may be retained in position by fitting of the trim strip to said frame component.

Thus according to a f u rther aspect of the invention there is provided a sliding door assembly having a main frame defining inner and outer parallel tracks, and a detachabletrim strip and door retaining member defining the inner edge of the innertrack whereby a door member may be moved generally horizontally into engagementwith said innertrack and retained in position by fitting of said trim stripto said mainframe.

Preferablythe main frame is formed from identical top, bottom and side frame members each of which comprises a one piece section defining said parallel tracks and incorporating an integral projection forming a divider adapted to extend between and separate doors located in respective ones of said tracks.

Preferably also the door assembly comprises a fixed outer door located in said outertrack and a movable inner door slidably located in said innertrack. The outerfixed door is preferably mounted on a non- metallic cloaking member engaged with the outer one of said tracks in said main frame component and extending overthe exposed metallic surfaces thereof to shield same from exposureto external temperatures.

GB 2 158 496 A 1 Preferably the inner sliclable cloorframe is provided with flanged wheels rotatably mounted atthe lower edge thereof and engaged with a complimentary guide formation extending longitudinally of the inner one of said parallel tracks.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. Mis a vertical cross-section through the upper portion of a patio door assembly according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 1 B is a vertical cross-section through the lower portion of a patio door assembly according to one embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section through part of the door assembly shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the door assembly comprises an outer or main frame 5 of extruded aluminium constructed from identical top, bottom and side frame members each of which comprises a one-piece frame member defining an outertrack 6 and an innertrack 7 and having an integral f lange directed inwardly of the frame and forming a dividing member 8 projecting between doors located in respective ones of said tracks. Formations 5A project outwardly from theframe members 5 (that is in a direction towardsthe surrounding opening in a building orthe like in which the door assembly is located) and corner connectors (not shown) of generally L-shaped section engage with theformations 5A and secure the components together at right angles to form the frame 5.

The doors comprise a fixed outer door indicated generally at 9 and a sliclable inner door indicated generally at 10, the combined width of the two doors being slightly greaterthan the width of theframe 5.

The fixed outer door 9 is secured by screws or other suitable means in a plastic cloaking member 11 fitted to theframe 5 and located thereon by engagement between formations 11 A on the cloaking member and projections 5B on the frame member. The cloaking member extends over and cloaks the exposed surfaces of the outer track 6 and the dividing member 8 of the frame 5 whereby to shield same from direct contact with external weather and prevent conduction of cold to the inner track 7. A separate external sill 12 is screwed or otherwise attached to the outer vertical face 1113ofthecloaking memberll atthebottomof the door construction.

The sliclable internal door 10 is mounted on two or more wheels 13 engaged with a projecting bead 14 extending longitudinally of the inner track 7 so as to permit rolling or sliding movement of the door 10 between a closed position off-setf rom the fixed door 9 asshown in Fig. 2andan open position alongside the door 9. The inwardly directed surface of the main frame member 5 is inclined from the bead 14to the outer region of the frame, the inclination being such that the lower frame member slopes downwardly and outwardly and thereby allows water to drain clear of The drawing(s) originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

The date of filing shown above is that provisionally accorded to the application in accordance with the provisions of Section 15(4) of the Patents Act 1977 and is subject to ratification or amendment.

2 the bottoms of the doors through drainage passages 5C provided at spaced intervals along the frame member 5 and the underside of the clocking member 11.

A detachable trim strip and retaining member 15 is engaged with the inner edge of the inner track 7 and when detached enables the inner door l 0 to be located in the track 7 and engaged with the rail 14 by generally horizontal movementfrom within the room orthe like in which thedoorassembly isfitted. The trim strip 15 maythen be engaged with the main frame member5 and retains the door 10 against lateral displacement while permitting sliding movement along thetrack7.

Thetrim strip 15 is of extruded plastics construction and presents a neat appearance to the track when viewed from within the room orthe like in which the door is fitted. The trim strip is provided with outwardly projecting lips orflanges 15Awhich engage over inwardly directed complementary flanges 5C orthe frame members 5 to locatethe trim strips in position, 85 mitred joints being formed atthe corners of the frame.

This arrangement facilitates fitting of the sUdable door compared with most previously proposed arrangements which require the doorto be lifted into a recess in the upper end of the frame and then lowered 90 into engagementwith a track atthe base of the frame.

This increases the size of theframe components due to the need to create space atthe upper end of the frameto permit lifting and lowering of the doorand prevents the use of identical frame components attop and bottom. Such arrangements also requirethe provision of locking meansto prevent unauthorised lifting and removal of the slidable doorordoors after installation.

Each ofthe doors comprise identical glazed frames 100 consisting of extruded plastiesframe members 16 each having a main body portion 17 incorporating an internal metal reinforcing member 18 and provided with an integral peripheral abutment portion 19 fitted with a seal 20 againstwhich the edges of a sealed double glazed unit21 abut. The unit21 is retained in position by detachable glazing bead 22 carrying a furthersealing member23 and engaged with retaining formations formed on the body portion 17. All four sides of both the inner and outerdoorframes are of 110 identical construction save forthe provision of the wheels 13 atthe bottom of the frame of the sliding door 10. The sliding door 10 maythus roll along the bead 14 and is sealed againstthe sides of the track by brush seals 24 located in recesses or channels provided in the innerface of the dividing member8 and in the outerface of the retaining member 15.

In assembling the door construction, the outer frame 5 Is secured in a suitable cavity in a wall in which the door is to be fitted and the cloaking member 11 and 120 sil 112 are fitted in the outertrack 6, following which the frame of the outer door 9 is inserted and secu red in position. The frame of the inner door 10 is then located in the inner track 7 with the wheels 13 in rolling engagement with the bead or rail 14 and the retaining 125 member 15 is then clipped to the inner edge of the main frame component 5 to retain the sliding door in position. Thereafter both doors may be glazed by inserting single panes of glass ordouble glazed units in contact with the abutment members 19 and 130 GB 2 158 496 A 2 retaining them in position byfitting of the glazing beads 22. Where single pane glazing is utilised, an additional packing piece (not shown) is inserted between the glazing beads 22 and the abutment members 19 in orderto accommodate the single pane ratherthan the double glazed units 21 illustrated. Vertical overlapping seals 25 are fitted to the upright side frame members of the doors which are centrally positioned when the sliding door is closed and co-operate to form a weather seal between the doors as shown in Fig. 2.

By virtue of the arrangement described there is provided a sliding door system suitable for use as a patio door which is of extremely simple construction compared with those available hitherto and which uses a minimum number of components. The entire outerframe is constructed from the same metal section and the frames of both doors are constructed from frame components of identical section. Conduction of cold from the exterior of the door assembly is reduced by cloaking of the exposed portions of the metal frame and the doorframes are readily adapted for single or double glazing by use of appropriate glazing beads.

Various modifications may be made without departing fromthe invention. Forexample although in the arrangement described one door isfixed andthe other slidable, both doors could be slidably located in their respective tracks if desired.

Claims (8)

1. A frame componentforthe outer or mainframe of a sliding door assembly, the frame component comprising a one-piece section defining parallel inner and outertracks and a dividerformed integrally therewith between said tracks and adapted to extend between and separate doors housed in the respective tracks.

2. A component according to claim 1 provided with formations adapted to receive a detachable trim strip and retaining member atthe inner edge of the inner one of said tracks.

3. A sliding door assembly having an outerframe constructed from identical top, bottom and side frame components according to claim 1 or2.

4. A sliding door assembly having a mainframe defining inner and outer parallel tracks, and a detachable trim strip and door retaining member defining the inner edge of the innertrack.

5. A door assembly according to claim 4 wherein said mainframe is formed from identical top, bottom and side frame members each of which comprises a one piece section defining said parallel tracks and incorporating an integral projection forming a divider adaptedto extend between and separate doors located in respective ones of said tracks.

6. A door assembly according to any of claims 3to 5 comprising a fixed outer door located in said outer track and a movable inner door slidably located in said innertrack.

7. A sliding door assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 8818935, 11185, 18996. Published at the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.

7. A door assembly according to claim 6 wherein said mainframe isof metal construction and a non-metallic cloaking member is engaged with the outer one of said tracks and extends overthe exposed surfaces of the outer track and of said divider to shield same from exposure to external temperatures.

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8. A door assembly according to any of claims 3 to 7 wherein the inners] idable doorframe is provided with flanged wheels rotatably mounted at the lower edgethereof and engaged with a complimentary guideformation extending longitudinally of the inner 70 one of said parallel tracks.

9. A door assembly according to any of claims 3to 7 wherein the innerface of said divider and the outer face of said retaining member are provided with brush seals engageable with opposite faces of said slidable 75 door.

10. A door assembly according to any of claims 3 to 9 wherein each of said doors comprise glazed frames formed from frame components of identical construction and located in respective ones of said tracks.

11. A door assembly according to claim 10 where in the doorframe components comprise body por tions having integral inwardly directed abutment portions located atthe outer edges thereof, and glazing panes or units retained in abutmentwith said abutment portions by detachable glazing members or beads engaged with retaining formations on said body portions atthe inner edges thereof.

12. A door assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying draw ings.

13. A frame component fora door assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with refer ence to the accompanying drawings.

14. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect:

Claims 1-14 above have been deleted ortextually amended.

New ortextually amended claims have been filed as follows:- 1. A sliding door assembly having an outer frame formed from top, bottom and side frame members, each of which incorporates a core member of identical cross-sectional shape on which detachable fitments are mounted to adapt the core memberfor use at the top, bottom orsides of the doorframe.

2. A sliding door assembly according to claim 1 wherein said core memers define inner and outer parallel tracks separated by a projection forming a divider therebetween.

3. A sliding door assembly according to claim 2 wherein said outertrack portion of said core member is angled to form a downwardly and outwardly sloping drainage surface on the bottom frame member, said fitments including cloaking members adaptedto conceal said sloping surface at selected regions of the outerframe and accommodate a fixed door mounted in theframe.

4. A sliding door assembly according to any preceding claim wherein each of said core members is provided with a longitudinally extending projection which, in the case of the bottom frame member, forms a guide rail for engagement bywheels or rollers GB 2 158 496 A supporting a sliding door mounted in the frame.

5. A sliding door assembly according to any preceding claim wherein said fitments include a retaining member attachable to the outerframe after mounting of a sliding doortherein to retain the sliding door in the frame and assist in guiding the door during sliding movement relativeto the frame.

6. A sliding door assembly according to any preceding claim wherein said core members are of metal construction and said fitments are formed from synthetic plastics material.