GB2346645A

GB2346645A - Roller assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2346645A
Application number: GB9902828A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles John Harvey
Original assignee: GILTSECURITY Ltd
Current assignee: GILTSECURITY Ltd
Priority date: 1999-02-10
Filing date: 1999-02-10
Publication date: 2000-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-10
Also published as: GB9902828D0; GB2346645B

Abstract

A roller assembly 22 has a roller 26 which guides a sliding panel, typically along a rail. To reduce the chance of the roller 26 being damaged on obstructions in its path, rollers mountings 28 project down to a level at least covering the roller 26. The projection of the roller 26 and mountings 28 below the panel can be adjusted by an adjusting means 30, for example screw adjusting mechanism. The adjusting means 30 pushes or pulls the roller 26 and mountings 28 within the assembly 22, which serves to raise and lower the height of the mountings 28 as they are guided by projections 34 within slots 32 set at an acute angle B to the loading of the panel on the roller assembly 22.

Description

Title: Roller Assembly Description of Invention The present invention relates to a roller assembly for a sliding panel and a sliding panel including the roller assembly.

Conventionally, a sliding panel is supported on rollers, which in use are located on a bottom edge of the sliding panel. The rollers engage a track, or similar guide means, which is provided on, for example, a floor.

A problem encountered is that prior to the sliding panel being installed, the rollers are susceptible to being damaged by, for example, being used to transport the sliding panel over surfaces such as concrete, rather than the sliding panel being carried.

Furthermore, once the sliding panel has been installed, objects, for example coat hangers, lying over the track with which the rollers engage can cause damage to the rollers when the panel is slid over that part of the track.

A further problem encountered when installing such a sliding panel is that it is desirable for the vertical edges of the panel to be substantially parallel to, for example, an adjacent wall. However, it is sometimes the case that the floor and adjacent wall are not perpendicular, and so in order for the vertical edges of the sliding panel to be substantially parallel to the adjacent wall, it is necessary to adjust the angle of the bottom edge of the sliding panel relative to the floor.

Roller assemblies are known in the art whereby a roller is mounted within a body by way of a pivoting arrangement, and the roller assembly having means to allow the position of the roller to be adjusted relative to the body so that the height of the body can be adjusted relative to the track with which the roller engages. A problem with such an assembly is that the load exerted on the roller assembly by the sliding panel is transferred to the roller primarily via the pivoting arrangement. Consequently, the moving parts of the pivoting arrangement are prone to damage.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a roller assembly for a sliding panel, the roller assembly including a body and a roller, the roller being rotatably mounted such that a part of the roller extends from the body substantially in a load direction, the roller assembly further includes roller protection means, the roller protection means extending from the body substantially in the load direction for a distance at least substantially equal to the distance for which the roller extends from the body.

An advantage of the present invention is that the protection means helps prevent the roller being used to transport a sliding panel over surfaces such as concrete, helping to prevent the roller from becoming damaged in this fashion.

Furthermore, once the sliding panel is installed, the protection means prevent objects such as coat hangers, which lie over the track, from causing damage to the rollers as the panel is slid over that part of the track on which the objects lie.

Preferably the roller protection means is provided by roller mounting means, which may include at least one mounting member, the at least one mounting member extending from the body adjacent the roller, substantially in the load direction for a distance at least substantially equal to the distance for which the roller extends from the body.

The mounting means may include two such mounting members, one provided on either side of the roller, and between which the roller is mounted.

Both of the mounting members may extend from the body substantially in the load direction for a distance at least equal to the distance for which the roller extends from the body.

Preferably the roller is adjustably mounted and the roller assembly further includes means for actuating adjustment of the position of the roller relative to the body of the assembly, and the mounting means further includes first engagement means for engagement with guide means provided by the body such that the mounting means is capable of reciprocal movement parallel to an adjustment axis, the adjustment axis being substantially at an acute angle to the load direction, the mounting means further includes second engagement means for engagement with the actuation means, at least part of the actuation means being capable of reciprocal movement in a direction generally at right angles to the load direction to actuate movement of the mounting means along the adjustment axis.

This provides the advantage that in use, the load exerted on the roller by the slidable panel is transferred to the roller via the first engagement means and the guide means, which are less susceptible to damage than the moving parts of a pivoting arrangement for example.

The first engagement means of the mounting means preferably includes at least one elongate guide opening provided on at least one of the mounting members, the at least one elongate guide opening extending parallel to the adjustment axis.

It is also preferred that at least one elongate guide opening is provided on each of the mounting members, and each mounting member is preferably provided with two elongate guide openings, one located generally either side of an axis about which the roller rotates.

Preferably the guide means is provided by body wall parts, and the guide means may be in the form of protrusions received within each of the elongate guide openings.

The second engagement means of the mounting means preferably includes elongate actuation openings located towards a first edge of the or each mounting member, and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the load direction.

The actuation means preferably comprises an actuation bolt and an engagement nut, the engagement nut being received within the elongate actuation opening of the or each mounting member, and being prevented from rotation relative to the body of the roller assembly.

The body may include a first end which in use is located adjacent a side member of the sliding panel, the end of the body being provided with a tongue which in use is received within a recess provided by the side member of the sliding panel, and may be secured thereto. The body of the roller assembly may also be secured to a lower member of the sliding panel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts which are capable of being assembled to provide a sliding panel, the kit of parts including at least one roller assembly as described above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a sliding panel having at least one roller assembly as described above.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a sliding panel including a first side member and a second side member which in use are substantially parallel to each other, an upper member extending substantially perpendicularly between first ends of the first and second side member, and a lower member which extends substantially parallel to the upper member, and being located towards second ends of the first and second side member, the sliding panel further includes roller assemblies adjacent a lower surface of the lower member, one adjacent each side member, each roller assembly being secured to both the lower member and to the adjacent side member, the sliding panel further including alignment elements located on an upper surface of the upper member, one adjacent each side member, each alignment element being secured to both the upper member and to the adjacent side member.

The sliding panel may include a strengthening element extending between and secured to the first and second side members, substantially across a central region of the sliding panel.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an illustration of a sliding panel according to the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sectional illustrations of a roller assembly of the sliding panel of Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 are an illustration of an alignment element of the sliding panel of Figure 1; and Figures 6 and 7 are illustrations of a strengthening element of the sliding panel of Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown a sliding panel 10. The sliding panel 10 includes two side members 12, which are substantially parallel to one another, an upper member 14, extending substantially perpendicularly between first ends 16 of the side members 12, and a lower member 18, which extends substantially parallel to the upper member 14, and is located towards second ends 20 of the side members 12. The side members 12, upper member 14 and lower member 18 form a panel frame which borders a panel insert 11, for example a mirror.

The side members 12, upper member 14 and lower member 18 are preferably made from aluminium alloy, formed by a method such as extrusion, although any suitably strong material may alternatively be used.

The second end 20 of each of the side members 12 extends beyond the lower member 18, forming an inverted U-shape beneath the lower member 18 when the sliding panel 10 is in use. Within the U-shape there are provided two roller assemblies 22 adjacent a lower surface of the lower member 18, one adjacent each of the second ends 20 of the side members 12, to provide means upon which the panel is capable of being slid from side to side.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, a roller assembly 22 is illustrated in more detail. The roller assembly 22 has a body 24, a roller 26, mounting means comprising two mounting members 28, and actuation means 30. The present invention is not limited to including two mounting members 28, but may for example include only one.

The roller 26 is rotatably mounted between the two mounting members 28 such that a part of the roller 26 extends from the body 24 substantially in a load direction A. The mounting members 28 also extend from the body 24 substantially in the load direction A for a distance generally equal to, or slightly greater than, the distance for which the roller 26 extends from the body 24.

Although for the embodiment illustrated each mounting member 28 extends from the body 24 along the majority of its length, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only a region of one of the mounting members 28 adjacent the roller may extend from the body 24.

Each mounting member 28 has first engagement means, which for the embodiment illustrated are in the form of two elongate guide openings 32 located generally either side of an axis C about which the roller 26 rotates. The guide openings 32 extend substantially parallel to an adjustment axis B, the adjustment axis B being at an acute angle to the load direction A.

The guide openings 32 engage with guide means provided by body wall parts 35. The guide means in the illustrated embodiment are in the form of protrusions 34 extending inwardly of the body 24, one being received within each of the guide openings 32.

The width of the guide openings 32 is substantially equal to the corresponding width of the protrusions 34. Thus movement of the mounting members 28 relative to the body 24 other than in the direction of the adjustment axis B is restricted by the protrusions 34.

The length of the guide openings 32 is greater than the corresponding length of the protrusions 34, and so limited movement of the mounting members 28 relative to the body 24 in a direction parallel to that of the adjustment axis B is permitted.

The present invention is not limited to the first engagement means 32 and the guide means 34 of the illustrated embodiment but may include any alternative means for encouraging movement of the mounting members 28 only in a direction parallel to the adjustment axis B.

Each of the mounting members 28 also has second engagement means, which for the embodiment illustrated is in the form of an elongate actuation opening 36. The actuation opening 36 of each mounting member 28 is located towards a first edge 38 of the respective mounting member 28, and extends in a direction substantially parallel to the load direction A.

For the embodiment illustrated, the actuation means 30 comprises an actuation bolt 40, a locking nut 42 and a substantially square engagement nut 44. The actuation bolt 40 passes through a hole 46 provided in a first end part 47 of the body 24, and is retained in position by the locking nut 42.

The actuation bolt 40 has a head part 48 located at a first end thereof, which engages with the body 24, and a second end 50, opposed to the first end which is located substantially between regions of the mounting members 28 adjacent their first edges 38, and towards which the engagement nut 44 is located.

The engagement nut 44 has two opposing sides which are each received within the actuation opening 36 of one of the mounting members 28.

Outwardly facing surfaces of the engagement nut 44, adjacent its opposing sides, engage with the wall parts 35 of the body 24, preventing rotation of the engagement nut 44 about the actuation bolt 40 relative to the body 24.

The width of the actuation openings 36 is substantially equal to the corresponding width of the engagement nut 44. Thus relative movement between the mounting members 28 and the engagement nut 44 in a direction parallel to the axis of the actuation bolt 40 is restricted.

However, the length of the actuation openings 36 is greater than the corresponding height of the engagement nut 44. Thus limited movement of the mounting members 28 relative to the engagement nut 44 in a direction parallel to the load direction A is permitted.

The position of the roller 26 may be adjusted relative to the body 24 by operation of the actuation means 30. The actuation means 30 is operated by rotation of the actuation bolt 40. Due to rotation of the engagement nut 44 being prevented by the wall parts 35 of the body 24, when the actuation bolt 40 is rotated, its thread causes the engagement nut 44 to move in a direction parallel to the axis D of the actuation bolt 40, towards or away from the head part 48.

Due to the opposing sides of the engagement nut 44 being received within the actuation openings 36 of the mounting members 28, the mounting members 28 are urged in a direction corresponding to that of the engagement nut 44.

As the mounting members 28 are urged one way or the other by the engagement nut 44, the engagement of the protrusions 34 with the guide openings 32 results in movement of the mounting members 28, and therefore movement of the roller 26, in a direction parallel to the adjustment axis B relative to the body 24.

Thus, for the illustrated embodiment, by rotating the actuation bolt 40 such that the engagement nut 44 moves in a direction away from the roller 26, the resulting motion of the mounting means 28, and therefore the roller 26, is such that the extent to which the roller 26 extends from the body 24 is increased. Accordingly, by rotating the actuation bolt 40 in the opposite direction, the extent to which the roller 26 extends from the body 24 is reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the actuation means 30 or the actuation openings 36 of the illustrated embodiment, but may include any alternative means for enabling the mounting members 28 to be urged in a direction generally perpendicular to the load direction A.

The ability to increase and decrease the amount by which the roller 26 extends from the body 24, allows the height of the body 24 in use to be raised or lowered relative to a surface with which the roller 26 engages.

The body 24 is provided with means for securing it to the lower member 18 and adjacent side members 12 which for the embodiment illustrated includes threaded holes 52,54,56 for receiving therein bolts 62,64,66 to secure the roller assembly 22 to the lower member 18 and adjacent side member 12 of the sliding panel 10. The threaded hole 66, and hole 46 pass through a tongue 58 provided by the first end part 47, which is received within a recess 60 provided by the side member 12. Thus by raising or lowering the body 24 of the roller assembly 22 relative to the surface with which the roller 26 engages, the sliding panel 10 is correspondingly raised or lowered. Due to the roller assembly 22 being secured to both the side members 12 and the lower member 18, no further components are required for assembling the bottom of the slidable panel 10.

Referring back to Figure 1, it will be appreciated that by raising or lowering the bodies 24 of the roller assemblies 22 by different amounts, the sliding panel 10 can be tilted relative to the surface with which the rollers 26 engage in order to align the side members 12 such that they are substantially parallel with an adjacent wall or the like.

In Figure 3 there are illustrated plugs 67 which in use are inserted into holes provided in the side member 12, these holes providing access to the actuation bolt 40 and bolt 66. The plugs 67 also provide buffer means which help prevent damage to the side members 12 caused by the side members 12 colliding into, for example, adjacent walls during use. The plugs 67 are preferably made from material such as rubber, or other resilient material, such that they reduce the noise caused by such collisions.

An advantage of the present invention is that, by virtue of the mounting members 28 extending from the body 24 by a substantially equal, or slightly greater, distance to that of the roller 26, the mounting members 28 provide means for protecting the roller 26, and thereby helping to prevent the roller 26 from being used to transport the sliding panel 10 over surfaces such as concrete, thus reducing the susceptibility of the roller 26 to damage.

The mounting members 28 also help to protect the roller 26 from damage caused by objects such as coat hangers lying over a track with which the roller 26 engages. The mounting members 28 achieve this when the roller 26 approaches the object by preventing the object from being run over by the roller 26, pushing the object out of the way.

The roller assembly 22 provides the further advantage of having fewer moving parts than, for example, a conventional roller assembly 22 having a pivotal arrangement. Furthermore the load exerted on the roller assembly 22 by the sliding panel 10 is transferred to the roller 26 primarily via the protrusions 34 and guide openings 32, which are more robust than a pivotal arrangement.

Thus the roller assembly 22 is less prone to damage from the load exerted by the sliding panel 10.

The body wall parts 35 and mounting members 28 of each roller assembly 22 are preferably made from pressed sheet steel, whilst the first end part 47 and an opposing second end part 49 are preferably made from a plastics material. However, these components may be manufactured from any appropriate materials.

Alignment elements 68, which in use are received within a rail (not shown) above the sliding panel 10, are provided adjacent an upper surface of the upper member 14, one adjacent each of the side members 12. An alignment element 68 is illustrated in more detail in Figures 4 and 5.

The alignment element 68 has a central portion 70, which in use is received within a recess 72 provided by the upper member 14. A side portion 74 extends from each side of the central portion 70, at the end of which there is provided means for retaining thereto contact elements 76. For the embodiment illustrated the contact elements 76 are in the form of soft bristles, which provide a yielding contact between the alignment element 68 and the rail above the sliding panel 10, which helps prevent the panel 10 from moving other than along the rail when desired.

A tongue 78 is provided by the central portion 70. The tongue 78 is received within the recess 60 provided by the adjacent side member 12.

The alignment element 68 is secured to the upper member 14, for example, by way of a bolt or self tapping screw 79, as shown in Figure 4. The tongue 78 may then be inserted into the recess 60 and secured therein, for example also by way of a bolt or self tapping screw 80 as shown in Figure 5.

In this way, the alignment element 68 also acts as a structural component, such that no further components are required for assembling the top of the sliding panel 10.

Referring back to Figure 1, a strengthening element 82 may be provided substantially across a central region of the panel insert 11. The strengthening element 82 is illustrated in more detail in Figures 6 and 7.

The strengthening element 82 has a central portion 84 and two generally L-shaped side portions 86, one provided on either side of the central portion 84.

Each side portion 86 extends between the side members 12, and comprises a first part 88 which extends substantially at right angles from the central portion 84 to the panel insert 11, and a second part 90 which extends from the first part 88 substantially parallel with and adjacent the panel insert 11.

The central portion 84 has a length greater than that of the side portions 86, such that its ends extend over the side members 12, and are secured thereto.

For the embodiment illustrated, the ends of the central portion 84 are secured to the side members 12 by self tapping screws 87. However, any alternative method of securing the ends of the central portion 84 to the side members 12 may be used, for example using nuts and bolts, or adhesive The second part 90 of each of the side portions 86 may be secured to the panel insert 11, for example by use of an adhesive 92 or alternative suitable means, for example double sided self adhesive tape.

The strengthening element 82 helps to increase the rigidity of the sliding panel by preventing the side members 12 from bowing out. Furthermore, by securing the second part 90 of each side portion 86 to the panel insert 11, the panel insert 11 is provided with greater support.

Each side member 12 may be provided with a recess 94 extending substantially along the length of a front surface of the side member 12, within which decorative infills can be received.

A facing piece (not shown) may be provided across the front of the Ushape provided by the two side members 12 and the lower member 14 to conceal from view the roller assemblies 22.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A roller assembly for a sliding panel, the roller assembly including a body and a roller, the roller being rotatably mounted such that a part of the roller extends from the body substantially in a load direction, the roller assembly further includes roller protection means, the roller protection means extending from the body substantially in the load direction for a distance at least substantially equal to the distance for which the roller extends from the body.
2. A roller assembly according to claim 1 wherein the roller protection means is provided by roller mounting means.
3. A roller assembly according to claim 2 wherein the mounting means includes at least one mounting member, the at least one mounting member extending from the body adjacent the roller, substantially in the load direction for a distance at least substantially equal to the distance for which the roller extends from the body.
4. A roller assembly according to claim 3 wherein the mounting means include two mounting members, one provided on either side of the roller, and between which the roller is mounted.
5. A roller assembly according to claim 4 wherein both of the mounting members extends from the body substantially in the load direction for a distance at least equal to the distance for which the roller extends from the body.
6. A roller assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the roller is adjustably mounted and the roller assembly further includes means for actuating adjustment of the position of the roller relative to the body of the assembly, and the mounting means further includes first engagement means for engagement with guide means provided by the body such that the mounting means is capable of reciprocal movement parallel to an adjustment axis, the adjustment axis being substantially at an acute angle to the load direction, the mounting means further includes second engagement means for engagement with the actuation means, at least part of the actuation means being capable of reciprocal movement in a direction generally at right angles to the load direction to actuate movement of the mounting means along the adjustment axis.
7. A roller assembly according to claim 6 wherein the first engagement means of the mounting means includes at least one elongate guide opening provided on at least one of the mounting members, the at least one elongate guide opening extending parallel to the adjustment axis.
8. A roller assembly according to claim 7 wherein at least one elongate guide opening is provided on each of the mounting members.
9. A roller assembly according to claim 8 wherein each mounting member is provided with two elongate guide openings, one located generally either side of an axis about which the roller rotates.
10. A roller assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the guide means are provided by body wall parts, the guide means being in the form of protrusions received within each of the elongate guide openings.
11. A roller assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein the second engagement means of the mounting means include elongate actuation openings located towards a first edge of the at least one mounting member, and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the load direction.
12. A roller assembly according to claim 11 wherein the actuation means comprises an actuation bolt and an engagement nut, the engagement nut being received within the elongate actuation opening of the at least one mounting member, and being prevented from rotation relative to the body of the roller assembly.
13. A roller assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the body includes a first end which in use is located adjacent a side member of the sliding panel, the end of the body being provided with a tongue which in use is received within a recess provided by the side member of the sliding panel.
14. A roller assembly according to claim 13 wherein the body of the roller assembly is secured to a lower member of the sliding panel and the end of the roller assembly provided with the tongue is secured to the side member.
15. A roller assembly as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
16. A kit of parts which are capable of being assembled to provide a sliding panel, the kit of parts including at least one roller assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.
17. A sliding panel comprising at least one roller assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 15.
18. A sliding panel including a first side member and a second side member which in use are substantially parallel to each other, an upper member extending substantially perpendicularly between first ends of the first and second side members, and a lower member which extends substantially parallel to the upper member, and being located towards second ends of the first and second side members, the sliding panel further includes roller assemblies adjacent a lower surface of the lower member, one adjacent each side member, each roller assembly being secured to the lower member and to the adjacent side member, the sliding panel further including alignment elements located on an upper surface of the upper member, one adjacent each side member, each alignment element being secured to the upper member and to the adjacent side member.
19. A sliding panel according to claim 18 wherein the sliding panel includes a strengthening element extending between the first and second side members, substantially across a central region of the sliding panel.
20. A sliding panel as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
21. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.