GB2446060A

GB2446060A - Folding door mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2446060A
Application number: GB0801296A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Edward Brown
Original assignee: Jebron Ltd
Current assignee: Jebron Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-24
Filing date: 2008-01-24
Publication date: 2008-07-30
Also published as: GB0701289D0; GB0801296D0

Abstract

A folding door mechanism comprising a door having a first door leaf 11 having a support pivot 14 and a support part for connection to a door frame or wall and a second door leaf 12 rotatably supported on the first door leaf 11 and a guide mechanism, preferably a pin moveable in a track. The first door leaf 11 has a first engagement part 33 and the second door leaf has a second engagement part 34, with the engagement parts being rotatably engaged with each other, whereby rotating the second door leaf relative to the first door leaf in a first direction causes the first door leaf to rotate about the support part in a second direction. The first and second engagement parts may have meshed teeth and a gear disposed within a housing a mounted on a spindle supported in the housing by a bearing (see Figures 10, 11). A drive mechanism formed using a pulley system may also be used.

Description

Title: Folding Door Mechanism

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a folding door mechanism.

Where a door is relatively wide, and it is required to be opened by a wheelchair user, particularly when the door must be opened by pulling, the wheelchair user requires a degree of dexterity to control the movement of the door and the wheelchair, and the door can be awkward to manipulate and pass through. This is exacerbated if the door is controlled by a door closer * ** operable to maintain the door closed, for example, in accordance with fire door S...

regulations. However, to meet accessibility requirements for, for example, the elderly and disabled, it is desirable that the door opens relatively easily.

Folding doors are known, but these require tracks or runners to guide the door, which can be noisy, provide a hazard and cause problems if, for example, the door jumps out of its tracks. In environments where cleanliness is a particular issue, such as hospitals, deep cleaning of exposed door mechanisms can lead to removal of lubricants from the mechanism and affect smooth operation of the door.

An aim of the present invention is to reduce or overcome one or more of the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide a folding door mechanism comprising a door having a first door leaf having a support pivot and a support part for connection to a door frame or wall and a second door leaf rotatably supported on the first door leaf, and a guide mechanism, the first door leaf comprising a first engagement part and the second door leaf comprising a second engagement part, the first and second engagement parts being rotatably engaged with one another, whereby rotating movement of the second door leaf relative to the first door leaf in a first direction causes the first door leaf to rotate about the support part in a second direction.

The first engagement part and the second engagement part may each comprise toothed engagement parts, wherein the teeth are in mesh.

The first engagement part and a second engagement part may each comprise a gear disposed within a housing and mounted on a respective spindle, the spindles being supported on the housing by a bearing.

A first door connection part may be provided connected to the first gear and the first leaf and a second door connection part may be connected between the second gear and the second leaf. I. q * S * SI

The door connection part may rotate with the respective spindle. * S.

Each spindle may be supported by side bearings.

The first door connection part may be received in a recess of the first leaf and the second door connection part may be received in a recess of the second leaf.

The housing may comprise a sealed housing.

The guide mechanism may comprise a guide pin mounted on the second leaf and received in a guide track.

The guide track may be located above the first door leaf and second door leaf.

The drive mechanism may comprise a first pulley wheel rotatably mounted on the first door leaf and a second pulley wheel rotatably mounted on the first door leaf and a pulley belt extending between the first pulley wheel and the second pulley wheel.

The first door leaf and second door leaf may be connected by a link, the first door leaf and second door leaf each being pivotally connected to the link, the length of the link being such that an axis of the first pulley wheel and an axis of the second door leaf are maintained at the same spacing when the first door leaf and second door leaf rotate relative to one another.

The first pulley wheel may be fixed relative to the link. * *. e..

15 The second pulley wheel may be fixed relative to the support part.

The folding door may be opened by pushing from either side.

:hhh The folding door may comprise a resilient biasing mechanism for fixed * attachment relative to the support operable to urge the first door leaf towards a closed position.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side view, partially cut away, of a folding door mechanism, Figure 2 is a plan view of a part of the mechanism of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an illustration of the drive mechanism of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an illustration of a part of the drive mechanism of Figure 3, Figure 4 is a plan view of the folding door mechanism of Figure 1 in one open position, Figure 4b is a plan view of the folding door mechanism of Figure 1 in another open position, Figure 5a is a plan view of a link provided on an upper part of the folding door mechanism of Figure 1, Figure 5 is a side view of the link of Figure 5, * ** :.:: Figure 5 is a plan view of a link provided on a lower part of the folding door mechanism of Figure 1, ** I * * * .* Figure 5d is a side view of the link of Figure 5, Figure 6 is a side view of a further folding door mechanism, Figure 7 is a side view of a door connection part of the folding door mechanism of Figure 6, Figure 8 is a bottom view of the door connection part of Figure 7, Figure 9 is a top view of the door connection part of Figure 7, Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Figure 9, and Figure 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Figure 10.

Referring now to Figure 1, a folding door mechanism is shown generally at 10 comprising a door having a first door leaf 11 and a second door leaf 12. The first door leaf 11 and second door leaf 12 are connected at the top and bottom by links 13 and a guide mec*hanism as will be discussed in more detail below.

The door mechanism may Include a cover to hide and protect the guide mechanism but the cover is not shown for the purpose of clarity.

To provide for connection to a support surface such as a wall or door frame, the first door leaf 11 is provided with support pivots generally shown at 14.

Each of the support pivots 14 comprises a bearing part 15 for connection to a support part, in this example the upper bracket 16 and lower bracket 17.

ID Supported in each of the bearing parts 15 is a pivot arm shown at 18 fixedly connected to the first door leaf 11. * *.

At the other end of the first door leaf 11, similar support pivot assemblies are generally shown at 19. A pivot arm 20 is fixed relative to the first door part 11, and a bearing part 21 pivotally receives the arm 20. An upper part 22 of the pivot part 19 is non-rotatably connected to the link 13.

The second door leaf 12 at its upper and lower parts is provided with a cup generally shown at 23. The upper cup 23 receives a bearing 24 which is connected to the link 13 to provide for pivotal movement of the second door part 12 relative to the upper link 13. The lower cup 23 receives a thrust bearing 25 such that the weight of the door is supported through the thrust bearing 25 but is still able to rotate relative to the lower link 13. The thrust bearing 25 is of adjustable height to allow the relative height of the first door leaf 11 and second door leaf 12 to be adjusted, particularly to ensure the engagement parts 33, 34, described below are in mesh.

The upper and lower edges of the first door leaf 11 and second door leaf 12 are provided with engagement members shown in more detail in Figure 2.

The first door member is provided with a first end plate 30 and a second end plate 31. Ends plates 30, 31 are fixed to both the upper and lower ends of the first door leaf 11. The seconddoor leaf 12 is provided with a second door plate 32 similar to the end plate 30. As best seen in Figure 2, the end plates 30, 32 are provided with first engagement part 33 and a second engagement part 34 respectively. As shown in Figure 2, the first engagement part 33 and second engagement part 34 comprise radially toothed surfaces where the teeth are in mesh, The centres A, B of the centres of curvature of each of the engagement parts 33, 34 is located such that they are coaxial with the axes of rotation of the bearings 19, 24. Thus, when the first door leaf 11 and the second door leaf 12 rotate relative to the link 13, the distance between the axes of rotation of the bearings 19, 24 is at a constant spacing.

As illustrated in Figure 3a, a tensioned belt 35 extends between the bearings * *.

14, 19 on the first door leaf 11. In this example, the bearing parts 15, 21 of the pivot assemblies 14, 19 provide first and second pulley wheels around which the belt 35 extends. As the bearing assembly 15 of the support pivot 14 is fixed relative to the support 16, the belt 35 will partially rotate as the first door leaf 11 moves relative to the link 13 as illustrated in Figure 3. The tensioned belt 35 and first and second pulley wheels are preferably toothed to ensure a constant positional relationship between the first door leaf 11, the second door leaf 12 and the support part. In Figure 3 the tensioned belt is shown with tensioners 35, but alternatively the pulley wheels may be adjustable to tension the belt.

Referring now to Figures 5, 5b, and 5c, an example of a link 13 is shown in more detail. As seen in Figures 5 and 5c, the link 13 comprises a first annular part 13 and a second annular part 13 connected at either side by spaced bars I 3. A bolt I 3 extends between the bars I 3 to pull them closer together to reduce the size of the apertures in the annular parts 1 3a, I 3b. This will serve to clamp the link 13 to the bearing assemblies 19, 24. Accordingly, Figure 5b shows an end part 24a of the bearing assembly 24 received in part 13a, whilst Figure 5 shows an end part 25 of the thrust bearing 25 received (_ 7 in the part 1 3 for location at a lower part of the door assembly 10. If it is desired to adjust the relative height or orientation of the first door leaf 11 and second door leaf 12, the bolt 13d can be loosened to slacken the link 13 to permit relative movement between the door leaves, and then tightened to clamp the door leaves in the desired relative orientation.

The door mechanism works as follows. When someone wishes to open the door, they approach the door and may push it in either direction as illustrated by the arrows C, C' in Figures 4 and 4. As the second door leaf is pushed away from the person, for example in the anti-clockwise direction as shown by arrow C in Figure 4a, the second door leaf 12 will be pushed in an anti- * .* clockwise direction relative to the first door leaf 11. The first door leaf 11 and second door leaf 12 will rotate relative to one another in engagement through the first and second engagement parts 33, 34. Consequently, the link 13 will be urged in an anti-clockwise direction, urging the bearing part 21 to rotate relative to the first door leaf 11, again in an anti-clockwise direction as shown in Figure 4. This will cause the belt 35 to attempt to move in a generally anti-clockwise direction, pulling the first door leaf 11 in a generally clockwise direction relative to the bracket 16, 17. The door will thus fold into the folded position shown in Figure 4. An alternative way of envisaging the operation of the door mechanism is that the belt 35 acts as a parallelogram mechanism, maintaining the link 13 at a constant orientation relative to the closed position.

Accordingly, the folding of the door mechanism is driven through the engagement of the toothed parts 33, 34.

Similarly, someone approaching the door from the other direction and pushing on the door in direction shown by arrow C' will cause the same operation of the door but in the opposite sense, causing the second door leaf 12 to rotate relative to the first door leaf 11 in a generally clockwise direction, and the first door leaf 11 to rotate relative to the wall bracket 16, 17 in a generally anti-clockwise direction, folding the door into the configuration shown in Figure 4.

Consequently, when the door is approached, it may be opened by pushing whichever direction the door is approached from, and a wide door opening can be easily opened or closed without requiring moving the wheelchair and with relatively small amounts of effort. As all the rotating parts are supported in bearings, the folding door mechanism 10 has relatively low operating forces so that a door closer needs to provide only a light closing force and, is easy to open by pushing.

Advantageously, the door shown herein does not need floor or ceiling tracks to guide the door as it folds. Since the door mechanism does not require a frame, it could be used as a folding screen attached to a wall. p ** S..

Although in the examples shown herein the door mechanism 10 opens to an open position, in which the first door leaf 11 and second door leaf 12 are :. parallel, at 90 to its closed position as illustrated in Figures 4 and 4b, the folding door mechanism 10 can be adjusted so that it reaches its fully open position at a different angle by varying the relative sizes of the first and second pulley wheels. The door mechanism 10 can be set to open to a larger angle by making the first pulley wheel smaller than the second pulley wheel, and conversely the door mechanism 10 can be set so that it reaches its fully open position at less than 90 from a closed position by setting the second pulley wheel smaller than the first pulley wheel.

A further folding door mechanism Is shown in Figures 6 to 11. In this embodiment, a door mechanism is generally shown at 40 having a first door leaf 41 and second door leaf 42. The first door leaf 41 and second door leaf 42 are connected by links 43 which will be discussed in more detail below.

The first door leaf is pivotally connected to a wall or frame, generally shown at 44 and each of the first door leaf 41 and second door leaf 42 have rolling seals generally shown at 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b to provide an appropriate seal between the first and second leaves 41, 42 and between the leaves and a door frame or other upright.

A guide mechanism is generally shown at 45, and comprises a pin 46 mounted on the second door leaf 42 and slidably moveable in a track 47 which extends in a frame or lintel above the door leaf 41, 42. The guide pin 46 is spaced from the left hand edge of the second door leaf 42 by a distance which is the same as the distance from the right hand edge of the first door leaf 41 to the pivotal connection of the door leaf 41 with the upright 44.

The link 43 will now be discussed with reference to Figures 7 to 11. As shown, * ** the link 43 has a first door connection part 43 for connection to the first door :.:: leaf 41, and a second door connection part 43k for connection to the second door leaf 42. Each of the door connection parts 43a, 43k is connected to :*. 15 rotatable first and second engagement parts located within a housing 48 which will be discussed in more detail below. The link 43 may be located in suitable recesses provided in the corners of the first and second door leaves, 41, 42 as bestseen in Figure 6.

Referring now to Figures 10 and 11, the mechanism within the link 43 is shown, The link comprises a first engagement part 50 and a second engagement part 51, in this case each comprising a toothed gear wheel which is rotatable within the housing. Each engagement part 50, 51 in this example has four pivot holes 50a, 51a for engagement with a bolt for connection to the corresponding door connection part 43, 43k, and has teeth 50k, 51 which are in mesh such that the holes 50, 51 are suitably aligned so that in a closed position, the holes and hence the door connection parts 43, 43k will be in a straight line as shown in Figure 8. The engagement elements 50, 51 preferably comprise constant mesh gears such that there is little or no play or backlash between the first and second door leafs 41, 42. I, 10

As seen in Figure 10, each of the first and second engagement elements 50, 51 is supported on a corresponding spindle 52, 53. Each of the spindle 52, 53 has a corresponding aperture 52Q, 53 to receive bolts 54 which pass through the corresponding holes in the door connection part 43, 43k, apertures 52, 53, through the spindle 52, 53 and are threadedly engaged with the holes 50a, 51a of the first and second engagement parts 50, 51. The door connection parts 43a, 43b are first directly connected to and rotatable with engagement parts 50, 51. To aid in alignment, an end part 52k, 53k of each spindle is received in a suitable aperture in the corresponding door connection part43a,43b.

* To maintain the spindle 52 within the housing 48, an end part 52ç, 53 is received within a corresponding roller bearing 55, 56. The roller bearings are received within a rebate 57, 58 of the housing 48, and are held in place by suitable screws 59. A pin 60, 61 is received within a threaded end bore 52, 53 of each of the spindles 52, 53, and a washer 60a, 61 surrounds the respective pin 60, 61 and engages the outer face of the bearing 55, 56 to hold the spindle in place. This hence allows the spindles 52, 53 to rotate relative to the housing 48, but retains the spindle within the housing, in the view of Figure 10 preventing up or down vertical movement of the spindle 52, 53.

To prevent side to side motion of the spindles 52, 53 each spindle 52, 53 passes through a hole in a support collar 62. The support collar 62 supports vertical roller bearings 63 which engage the outer circumference of the spindles 52, 53 and restrain the spindles from side to side movement.

The link 43 is thus particularly advantageous in that it constrains any movement between the first door leaf 41 and second door leaf 42 to appropriate rotational movement whilst supporting the door leaf 52 on the door leaf 51, but limiting the amount of play between the two leaves. The housing 48 substantially encloses the elements of the first and second engagement parts and bearings, providing a sealed housing which can be filled with grease or appropriate lubricant to provide smooth, maintenance free operation of the doors, throughout their lifetime, thus allowing the mechanism to be used in an environment, such as hospitals, where cleanliness and the reduction of dirt traps is important. The housing can be made out of a suitable material such as stainless steel which can easily cleaned. It is envisaged that the door mechanism may be particularly used for toilets and bathrooms where access may be difficult for disabled or physically impaired users and where cleanliness is particularly important.

Turning now to Figure 6, when a user wishes to open the door, for example, by pushing the right hand edge of door leaf 42, the door leaf 42 will rotate about guide pin 46. The guide pin 46 will move to the left in the track 47, and at the "S same time the engagement of first and second engagement parts 50, 51 will : 15 cause the first door leaf 41 to rotate in the opposite sense. The first and second door leafs 41, 42 will first describe the same path as the previous embodiment, with corresponding advantages.

It will in fact be apparent that a suitable link 43 may be used in the folding door mechanism of Figures 1 to 5.

The embodiment of Figure 6 is also advantageous in that the guide mechanism, the pin 46 and track 47 serves only to guide the movement of the doors and provides no support. In particular, the mechanism 45 does not support any of the weight of the door leaf 42. Because the door leaf 42 is entirely supported on the links 43, the floor below the door mechanism 40 can be kept completely clear, and is thus free of any impediment trip hazard or guide track which may serve as a dirt trap.

Although the door shown herein has two door leaf parts, it can be envisaged that the door could be provided with three or more door leaf parts providing additional gearing and driving mechanisms are provided.

A door mechanism according to either embodiment can require a smaller footprint than a single-leaf door of the same width, and can thus permit a more efficient use of space, potentially reducing the building cost of a new building such as a hospital where individual wards have their own bathrooms.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components. I...

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 folding door mechanism comprising a door having a first

door leaf having a support pivot and a support part for connection to a door frame or wall and a second door leaf rotatably supported on the first door leaf, and a guide mechanism, the first door leaf comprising a first engagement part and the second door leaf comprising a second engagement part, the first and second engagement parts being rotatably engaged with one another, whereby rotating movement of the second door leaf relative to the first door leaf in a first direction causes the first door leaf to rotate about the support part in a second direction.

:*:*
2. A folding door mechanism according to claim I wherein the first engagement part and the second engagement part each comprise toothed :*. 15 engagement parts, wherein the teeth are in mesh.
3. A folding door mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the first engagement part and a second engagement part each comprise a gear :*. disposed within a housing and mounted on a respective spindle, the spindles being supported on the housing by a bearing.
4. A folding door mechanism according to claim 3 wherein a first door connection part is provided connected to the first gear and the first leaf and a second door connection part is connected between the second gear and the second leaf.
5. A folding door mechanism according to claim 4 wherein the door connection part rotates with the respective spindle.
6. A folding door mechanism according to claim 5 wherein each spindle is supported by side bearings.
7. A folding door mechanism according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the first door connection part is received in a recess of the first leaf and the second door connection part is received in a recess of the second leaf.
8. A folding door mechanism according to any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the housing comprises a sealed housing.
9. A folding door mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the guide mechanism comprises a guide pin mounted on the second leaf and received in a guide track.
10. A folding door mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the guide track :*:* is located above the first door leaf and second door leaf. S... S...
11. A folding door mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7 * wherein the guide mechanism comprises a first pulley wheel rotatably mounted on the first door leaf and a second pulley wheel rotatably mounted on :::* the first door leaf and fixed relative to the support, and a pulley belt extending :*. between the first pulley wheel and the second pulley wheel.
12. A folding door mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the first door leaf and second door leaf are connected by a link, the first door leaf and second door leaf each being pivotally connected to the link, the length of the link being such that an axis of the first pulley wheel and an axis of the second door leaf are maintained at the same spacing when the first door leaf and second door leaf rotate relative to one another.
13. A folding door mechanism according to claim 12, wherein the first pulley wheel is fixed relative to the link.
14. A folding door mechanism according to any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein the second pulley wheel is fixed relative to the support.
15. A folding door mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the folding door can be opened by pushing from either side.
16. A folding door mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a resilient biasing mechanism for fixed attachment relative to the support operable to urge the first door leaf towards a closed position.
17. A folding door mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. * ** * 0 * 0*
18. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein I...

15 and/or in the accompanying drawings.

I * ** * 0 * ** S. S * S S *I