GB2478582A

GB2478582A - An adjustable roller guide assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2478582A
Application number: GB201004047A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chris Armes; Adrian Redshaw
Original assignee: HL Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: Liniar Ltd
Priority date: 2010-03-11
Filing date: 2010-03-11
Publication date: 2011-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-11
Also published as: GB2478582B; GB201004047D0

Abstract

A guide assembly 10, for one or more door panels in a bi-fold door assembly, comprises a mounting member 12 to mount the assembly to a door pane, the mounting member further including a mount body 18 defining a hollow chamber 20 adjustably receiving a roller body 26 connected to a roller head 28. A rotatable actuator 34 is operably coupled with the roller body 26 wherein rotating the actuator alters the position of the roller body 26 in the hollow chamber to adjust the spacing between the roller head 28 and the mount body 18. Retraction of the roller head allows easier installation into a track after which the roller can be extended. The height adjustment actuator 34 may be threadingly engaged with roller body 26; the actuator may be retained from axial movement.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO

BI-FOLD DOOR ASSEMBLIES

This invention relates to a guide assembly for one or more door panels in a bi-fold door assembly.

In bi-fold door assemblies it is necessary to guide one or more door panels in the door assembly along respective guide tracks running along the top and bottom of an aperture in which the door assembly is located.

It is known to provide one or more roller assemblies at the top and bottom of respective door panels to engage with the guide tracks to provide the desired guiding of the door panels. In addition, the or each roller assembly at the bottom of a door panel carries the mass of the door assembly.

When installing a bi-fold door assembly it is necessary to engage respective roller assemblies with each of the top and bottom guide tracks. A conventional roller assembly at the bottom of a door panel in a bi-fold door assembly is fixed in position relative to the door panel while a conventional roller assembly at the top of a door panel is biased away from the door panel.

To install a bi-fold door assembly having such conventional roller assemblies an installer engages the or each bottom roller assembly with the bottom guide track while the door assembly is inclined from the vertical. The installer then depresses the or each top roller assembly against the bias to temporarily reduce the height of the door assembly, and so allow the installer to move the door assembly into a vertical position. Once the door assembly is in a vertical position the installer releases the or each top roller assembly and the bias moves the or each top roller assembly into engagement with the top guide track.

One drawback with such conventional roller assemblies is that they make it difficult for an installer to install a bi-fold door assembly. This is because the installer must at least temporarily work against a bias while at the same time carrying out other installation steps.

There is, therefore, a need for an improved roller assembly which allows an installer to more easily install a bi-fold door assembly.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a guide assembly, for one or more door panels in a bi-fold door assembly, comprising: a mounting member to secure the guide assembly to a door panel, the mounting member including a mount body defining a hollow chamber; a roller assembly including a roller assembly body and a roller assembly head, the roller assembly body being moveably received in the hollow chamber and the roller assembly head protruding relative to the mount body; and an actuator operably coupled with the roller assembly body, rotational movement of the actuator varying the position of the roller assembly body in the hollow chamber to control the spacing between the roller assembly head and the mount body.

The ability to vary the position of the roller assembly body in the hollow chamber, i.e. vary the position of the roller assembly body in the mount body, readily allows an installer of a bi-fold door assembly to set the spacing between the roller assembly head and the mount body, as desired, and then move on to another installation step without the need to continually act to maintain, e.g. a reduced spacing between the roller assembly head and the mount body.

Moreover, the ability to vary the position of the roller assembly body in the mount body, also allows the installer to adjust the configuration of a bi-fold door assembly to accommodate variations in the size and shape of an aperture, in which the door assembly is to be installed, that may have arisen during fabrication of the installation aperture.

Preferably the actuator and the roller assembly body include mutually engageable formations to operably couple one to the other. Such features provide the option of an installer using the actuator to increase and decrease the spacing between the roller assembly head and the mount body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the mutually engageable formations include cooperable thread formations. Cooperable thread formations are able to translate rotational movement of the actuator into linear movement of the roller assembly body within the mount body, as required, while also providing a degree of mechanical engagement between the actuator and the roller assembly body to allow the mutually engageable formations to transmit a load, e.g. from the roller assembly body to the actuator.

Optionally the roller assembly body includes a coupling portion operably coupled with the actuator and a swivelling portion connected with the roller assembly head, the coupling formation and the swivelling formation being separated from one another by a bearing member. Such an arrangement permits the roller assembly head to swivel relative to the mount body so as to accommodate changes in orientation of the corresponding door panel, e.g. as the door panel moves between open and closed configurations.

The swivelling portion and the mount body may include mutually cooperable formations to limit the range of movement of the swivelling portion relative to the mount body.

The inclusion of such mutually cooperable formations to limit the range of movement of the swivelling portion relative to the mount body helps to prevent the guide assembly becoming damaged through incorrect operation of the actuator by an installer. Such a feature also ensures that at least a portion of the swivelling portion remains received in the mount body.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the actuator is rotatably received in the mount body. Receiving the actuator in the mount body protects the actuator from damage, e.g. during transit of the guide assembly, and helps to inhibit unauthorised operation of the actuator.

Preferably the actuator is rotatably retained in the mount body whereby the actuator is axially immovable relative to the mount body. Rotatably retaining the actuator in the mount body allows the actuator to both increase and decrease the spacing between the roller assembly head, and assists the roller assembly in carrying the mass of one or more door panels.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the actuator is further axially retained in the mount body by a retention element. The inclusion of a retention element reinforces the retention of the actuator and so ensures that the roller assembly is able to carry the full mass of one or more door panels throughout a range of operating conditions.

Optionally the actuator is biased towards an abutment formation. Such an arrangement allows the actuator to both increase and decrease the spacing between the roller assembly head under a desired range of load conditions, while allowing the guide assembly to, in use, accommodate undulations in a guide track.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bi-fold door assembly including at least one guide assembly as described hereinabove.

The bi-fold door assembly of the invention shares the corresponding advantages of the aforementioned guide assemblies.

There now follows a brief description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of non-limiting example, with reference being made to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a guide assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a guide assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a guide assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a guide assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5 shows a bi-fold door assembly, including first and second guide assemblies, according to a further embodiment of the invention.

A guide assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10.

The guide assembly 10 includes a mounting member 12 to secure the guide assembly to one or more door panels (see Figure 5). In the embodiment shown the mounting member 12 is pivotally coupled with first and second hinge elements 14, 16, each of which may be secured to a separate door panel (not shown in Figure 1).

The mounting member 12 includes a mount body 18 that defines a hollow chamber 20.

In the embodiment shown the hollow chamber 20 is a first elongate cylindrical cavity 22.

The guide assembly 10 also includes a roller assembly 24 that includes a roller assembly body 26 and a roller assembly head 28. The roller assembly body 26 is moveably received in the hollow chamber 20 and the roller assembly head 28 protrudes relative to the mount body 18.

The roller assembly head 28 includes a pair of first rollers 30 and a pair of lateral rollers 32. Each of the first rollers 30 can sit on a guide track (not shown) to support the guide assembly relative to the track, while each of the lateral rollers 32 is able to sit within a slot in the guide track to inhibit lateral movement of the roller assembly head 28 relative to the track.

The guide assembly 10 also includes an actuator 34 which is operably coupled with the roller assembly body 26.

The actuator 34 and the roller assembly body 26 include mutually engageable formations 36 in the form of cooperable thread formations 38. In particular, in the embodiment shown, the actuator 34 includes a male thread formation 40 and the roller assembly body 26 includes a female thread formation 42. In other embodiments of the invention (not shown) the male and female thread formations may be reversed, and still further embodiments of the invention (not shown) may include other mutuaUy engageable formations such as a cooperable pin and slot arrangement.

The actuator 34 in the embodiment shown includes a bolt member 44 which has a bolt shank 46 and a bolt head 48. The bolt shank 46 defines the male thread formation 40, while the bolt head defines an engagement formation 50 to facilitate rotation of the actuator 34 by a tool.

The actuator is rotatably received in the mount body 18, and in particularis rotatably received within a pair of adjacent second and third cylindrical cavities 52, 54. The second cylindrical cavity 52 is formed in communication with the hollow chamber 20 and receives the bolt shank 46. The third cylindrical cavity 54 is larger in diameter than the second cylindrical cavity 52 and so defines an abutment formation 56 between the second and third cylindrical cavities 52, 54. The third cylindrical cavity 54 receives the bolt head 48.

The actuator 34 is rotatably retained in the mount body 18 by first and second retention members 58, 60 which engage with the bolt shank 46. The retention members 58, 60 allow the actuator 34 to rotate but prevent axial movement of the actuator 34 relative to the mount body 18.

In the embodiment shown each retention member 58, 60 is a dowel 62 that extends laterally through the mount body 18. In other embodiments of the invention (not shown) the actuator 34 may include only a single retention member, or one or more retention members in a form other than a dowel.

The guide assembly 10 shown in Figure 1 also includes a further retention element 64 in the form of a grub screw 66. The further retention element 64 reinforces the retention of the actuator 34 so as to increase the load-bearing capability of the guide assembly 10.

In use, the retention element 64, i.e. grub screw 66, is removed to expose the engagement formation 50 of the actuator 34.

An operative, i.e. user or installer, uses a suitably shaped tool to engage with the engagement formation 50 to rotate the actuator 34.

Rotating the actuator in a clockwise direction draws the roller assembly 24 towards the actuator 34 and so reduces the space between the roller assembly head 28 and the mount body 18. Reducing the spacing in this manner can be done to set the overall height of a bi-fold door assembly including the guide assembly to less than the height of the aperture in which it is to be installed, and so allows an installer readily to move the door assembly into an installed, upright position.

Rotating the actuator in an anti-clockwise direction forces the roller assembly 24 away from the actuator 34 and so increases the space between the roller assembly head 28 and the mount body 18. Increasing the spacing in this manner can be done to set the height of a bi-fold door assembly to match the height of the corresponding installation aperture so as to slidably retain the door assembly in the aperture.

Once installation and any subsequent adjustment is complete, the grub screw 66 can be screwed back into the mount body 18 to increase the axial retention of the actuator 34, e.g. as may be required to allow the guide assembly 10 to carry the mass of a pair of foldably coupled door panels.

A guide assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 70.

The second guide assembly 70 is similar to the first guide assembly 10 and like features share the same reference numerals.

One way in which the second guide assembly 70 differs from the first guide assembly 10 is that the mount body 12 is securable directly to a door panel.

The second guide assembly 70 includes a roller assembly head 28 which has a pair of second rollers 72 (as well as a pair of lateral rollers 32). Each second roller 72 is smaller than the first roller 30 in the first guide assembly 10.

In addition, the second guide assembly 70 includes a roller assembly body 26 which has a coupling portion 74 and a swivelling portion 76. The coupling portion 74 includes the female thread formation 42 and is mutually engaged with the bolt shank 46 of the actuator 34. The swivelling portion 76 is connected with the roller assembly head 28, and in the embodiment shown, integrally formed with the roller assembly head 28. The coupling and swivelling portions 74, 76 are separated from one another by a bearing member 78.

The swivelling portion 76 and the mount body 18 include mutually cooperable formations to limit the range of movement of the swivelling portion 76 relative to the mount body 18.

In the embodiment shown the mutually cooperable formations 80 include a pin 82 extending from the mount body 18 which locates in a slot 84 located in the swivelling portion 76.

In use, the second guide assembly 70 functions in a similar manner to the first guide assembly 10.

However, one way in which the functionality differs is that rotating the actuator 34 in a clockwise direction draws only the coupling portion 74 of the roller assembly body 26 towards the actuator 34. Nevertheless, applying a load to the roller assembly head 28, e.g. by engaging the roller assembly head 28 with a guide track, forces the swivelling portion 76 of the roller assembly body 26 into abutting relation with the bearing member 78, and so has the effect of reducing the spacing between the roller assembly head 28 and the mount body 18, as desired.

Rotating the actuator 34 in an anti-clockwise direction forces the roller assembly 24 away from the actuator 34 and so increases the space between the roller assembly head 28 and the mount body 18, as with the first guide assembly 10.

In the meantime, the swivelling portion 76 is able to rotate within the mount body 18, and so the roller assembly head 28 connected therewith is able to swivel relative to the mount body 18.

The mutually cooperable formations 80 limit the extent to which a user is able to use the actuator 34 to increase and decrease the spacing between the roller assembly head 28 and the mount body 18, so as to prevent inadvertent damage. The mutually cooperable formations 80 also prevent the swivelling portion 76 and the roller assembly head 28 connected therewith from becoming separated from the mount body 18.

In the embodiment shown the mutually cooperable formations 80 limit the extent to which the swivelling portion 76 is able to rotate within the mount body 18. In other embodiments of the invention (not shown) the mutually cooperable formations 80 may not provide such rotational limitation.

A guide assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 90.

The third guide assembly 90 is similar to the first guide assembly 10 and like features share the same reference numerals.

One way in which the third guide assembly 90 differs from the first guide assembly 10 is that the third guide assembly 90 omits the first and second retention members 58, 60, and the further retention element 64, i.e. the grub screw 66.

Instead, in the third guide assembly 90 the actuator 34 is biased towards the abutment formation 56. The biasing may be provided by a spring (not shown) and is sufficiently great to prevent a user or installer normally overcoming the bias.

Biasing of the actuator 34 in this manner allows the actuator 34 to function in essentially the same manner as it does in the first guide assembly 10, i.e. rotation of the actuator selectively increasing and decreasing the spacing between the roller assembly head 28 and the mount body 18.

However, in certain operating configurations the load on the roller assembly 24 is sufficiently large, e.g. as may arise as the roller assembly 24 moves over an anomaly in a corresponding portion of guide track, to overcome the bias and so the roller assembly 24 is able to move closer to the mount body 18 by temporarily moving the actuator 34 against the bias. In this way the third guide assembly 90 is able to accommodate anomalies in a guide track while remaining engaged with the guide track. Such a guide assembly is well-suite to being secured adjacent to a top of a door panel.

A guide assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 100.

The fourth guide assembly 100 is similar to the second guide assembly 70 and like features share the same reference numerals.

However, the fourth guide assembly 100 omits the first and second retention members 58, 60, and the further retention element 64, i.e. the grub screw 66, of the second guide assembly 70 Instead, in the fourth guide assembly 100 the actuator 34 is biased towards the abutment formation 56. The biasing may be provided by a spring (not shown) and is sufficiently great to prevent a user or installer normally overcoming the bias.

Accordingly, in use the swivelling portion 76 of the fourth guide assembly 100 allows the roller assembly head 28 to swivel relative to the mount body 18, while the biasing of the actuator 34 towards the abutment formation 56 allows the fourth roller assembly 100 to accommodate anomalies in a guide track while remaining engaged with the guide track.

As a result such a guide assembly is well-suite to being secured adjacent to a top of a door panel.

Figure 5 shows a bi-fold door assembly 110 according to a further embodiment of the invention.

The bi-fold door assembly 110 includes first and second pairs 112, 114 of foldably coupled door panels 116.

A first guide assembly 10 is pivotally mounted between the first and second pairs 112, 114 of foldably coupled door panels 116, while a second guide assembly 70 is mounted to one door panel 116 in the second pair 114 (only part of the second guide assembly 70 being shown in Figure 5).

As can be seen, the first and second guide assemblies 10, 70 guide and support the door assembly 110 relative to a guide track 118.

A third 90 guide assembly (not shown) is pivotally mounted at the top of the bi-fold door assembly 110, above the first guide assembly 10, and a fourth guide assembly (not shown) is mounted at the top of the bi-fold door assembly I 10, above the second guide assembly 70.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A guide assembly, for one or more door panels in a bi-fold door assembly, comprising: a mounting member to secure the guide assembly to a door panel, the mounting member including a mount body defining a hollow chamber; a roller assembly including a roller assembly body and a roller assembly head, the roller assembly body being moveably received in the hollow chamber and the roller assembly head protruding relative to the mount body; and an actuator operably coupled with the roller assembly body, rotational movement of the actuator varying the position of the roller assembly body in the hollow chamber to control the spacing between the roller assembty head and the mount body.
2. A guide assembly according to Claim I wherein the actuator and the roller assembly body include mutually engageable formations to operably couple one to the other.
3. A guide assembly according to Claim 2 wherein the mutually engageable formations include cooperable thread formations.
4. A guide assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the roller assembly body includes a coupling portion operably coupled with the actuator and a swivelling portion connected with the roller assembly head, the coupling formation and the swivelling formation being separated from one another by a bearing member.
5. A guide assembly according to Claim 4 wherein the swivelling portion and the mount body include mutually cooperable formations to limit the range of movement of the swivelling portion relative to the mount body.
6. A guide assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the actuator is rotatably received in the mount body.
7. A guide assembly according to Claim 6 wherein the actuator is rotatably retained in the mount body whereby the actuator is axially immovable relative to the mount body.
8. A guide assembly according to Claim 7 wherein the actuator is further axially retained in the mount body by a retention element.
9. A guide assembly according to any of Claims I to 6 wherein the actuator is biased towards an abutment formation.
10. A bi-fold door assembly including at least one guide assembly according to any of Claims Ito 9.
11. A guide assembly generally as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
12. A bi-fold door assembly generally as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.