GB2574616A

GB2574616A - Sliding door assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2574616A
Application number: GB1809619.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hughes Mark
Original assignee: Rutland Trading Co Ltd
Current assignee: Rutland Trading Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-06-12
Filing date: 2018-06-12
Publication date: 2019-12-18
Also published as: GB201809619D0

Abstract

An operator for a sliding door assembly 1 which comprising a sliding door 2 and a fixed structure, the sliding door operator 100 comprising an arm 110 and a biasing mechanism 130. A first part 111 of the arm is movably connected to the sliding door 2 or the fixed structure 4d. A second part 112 of the arm 110 is movably connected to, or bears against, the other of the sliding door 2 or fixed structure 4d. The biasing mechanism 130 is connected to the arm 110 and configured to bias the arm 110 to move relative to the sliding door 2 and/or fixed structure 4d so as to induce linear movement of the sliding door 2 relative to the fixed structure 4d. The arm is over 1000mm in length. Preferably the biasing mechanism is a spring, however other resilient, elastic, electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems are disclosed. One end of the arm may be slidable and pivotally mounted to the door or surface such that it moves along the slide guide when the door opens/closes.

Description

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sliding door assembly and to a sliding door operator for use in such an assembly.

A sliding door is a type of door that is operable to open or close by sliding it in a particular direction. Examples of sliding doors include top hung sliding doors, in which the door is slidably suspended from a track arrangement; and bottom rolling sliding doors, in which the door is slidably mounted on a track arrangement.

Background to the Invention

Sliding door operators, which facilitate opening or closing of a sliding door, are known. Typical sliding door operators are electrically powered and include an electric motor. Such sliding door operators often include other components, e.g. approach sensors for automatic opening of the door upon detection of an approaching person; and pushbuttons for manual opening of the door.

There are disadvantages associated with known sliding door operators. For example, they can be expensive to manufacture, install, maintain and repair. Furthermore, they can be bulky and incompatible with certain sliding door assemblies, e.g. those used in domestic environments. Moreover, they can require an electrical power source in order to function. Thus, in the event of a power outage they may be unable to function, which is inconvenient and can present safety risks. Additionally, by virtue of their requirement for an electrical power source they can be cost and energy inefficient.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a sliding door assembly and/or operatorthat at least partially overcomes or alleviates the above issues. Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a sliding door assembly comprising: a sliding door, a fixed structure and a sliding door operator comprising an arm and a biasing mechanism, wherein a first part of the arm is movably connected to the sliding door or the fixed structure, a second part of the arm is movably connected to, or bears against, the other of the sliding door or fixed structure and the biasing mechanism is connected to the arm and configured to bias the arm to move relative to the sliding door and/or fixed structure so as to induce linear movement of the sliding door relative to the fixed structure.

Embodiments of the present invention can be assembled using a modest number of components (e.g. at the simplest level, the sliding door operator may comprise one arm and a biasing mechanism). Thus, such embodiments can be constructed in a simple, compact and convenient form. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention can be constructed using readily available and conventional materials and components. Thus, such embodiments can be inexpensive to manufacture, install, maintain and repair. Moreover, in embodiments of the present invention the biasing mechanism can be used in the absence of a power source. Thus, such embodiments can be unaffected by power outages and other electrical faults, and cost and energy efficient.

The first part may be disposed towards or at one end of the arm and the second part may be disposed towards or at the opposite end of the arm. The first part of the arm may be pivotally connected to a fixed point on the sliding door or the fixed structure. The biasing mechanism may be arranged to urge the arm to pivot about the pivotal connection to the fixed point on either the sliding door or fixed structure. The arm may be pivotally mounted to a fixed point on either the sliding door or fixed structure by the biasing mechanism.

The second part of the arm may be pivotally and slidably connected to the sliding door or fixed structure.

In another arrangement, the arm comprises two or more pivotally connected portions, the first part being on one portion and the second part on the other portion. One part is pivotally connected to the sliding door and the other part is pivotally connected to the fixed structure. In this case each part may be pivotally connected on a fixed point on the sliding door or fixed structure.

The fixed structure may be a door frame, guide track arrangement, wall, floor, pillar or beam. The sliding door may be slidably mounted to the fixed structure by sliding door gear.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sliding door operator comprising: an arm having a length of at least 1000 mm, a first part of the arm being movably connectable to a sliding door or a fixed structure and a second part of the arm being movably connectable to, or arranged in use to bear against, the other of the sliding door or the fixed structure; and a biasing mechanism configured such that, in use, when the arm is connected to the sliding door and the fixed structure the biasing mechanism biases the arm to move relative to the sliding door and/or the fixed structure to induce linear movement of the sliding door relative to the fixed structure.

The sliding door operator may be operative to bias a sliding door towards a predetermined position. The predetermined position may be an open position, closed position, or position intermediate of an open position and a closed position.

The sliding door operator may be a sliding door closer.

The sliding door operator may be used for personal, and larger doors.

The arm may have a length of at least 1050 mm, 1100 mm, 1150 mm, 1200 mm, 1250 mm, 1300 mm, 1350 mm, 1400 mm or 1450 mm.

The arm may comprise a stepped section. This may be dimensioned such that opposite ends of the arm extend in substantially parallel spaced apart planes.

The first part may be pivotally connectable to the sliding door or the fixed structure, such as by way of a pivotal connection to a suitable mounting structure. The first part may be pivotally connectable to the sliding door or the fixed structure. The first part may be pivotally connectable to a mounting structure arranged to be fixedly mounted on the sliding door or fixed structure. The biasing mechanism may be comprised in the mounting structure. The biasing mechanism may be comprised in the mounting structure so that the arm is pivotally connectable to the sliding door or fixed structure by the biasing mechanism. The first part may be pivotally connectable to a fixed point on the sliding door or the fixed structure. The first part may be pivotally and slidably connectable to the sliding door or the fixed structure. The first part may be pivotally and slidably connectable to the sliding door or the fixed structure by a slide assembly.

The second part may be pivotally connectable to the other of the sliding door or the fixed structure, such as by way of a pivotal connection to a suitable mounting structure. The biasing mechanism may be comprised in the mounting structure so that the arm is pivotally connectable to the other of the sliding door or fixed structure by the biasing mechanism. The second part may be pivotally connectable to a fixed point on the other of the sliding door or the fixed structure. The second part may be pivotally and slidably connectable to the other of the sliding door or the fixed structure. The second part may be pivotally and slidably connectable to the other of the sliding door or the fixed structure by a slide assembly.

The slide assembly may comprise a slide and a guide. The slide may be slidable in the guide. The slide assembly may be fixedly connected to the sliding door or the fixed structure. The guide may be arranged to be fixedly mounted on the sliding door or the fixed structure. The slide assembly may be slidably and pivotally connected to the first part or second part. The slide may be slidably and pivotally connected to the first part or second part.

In some embodiments, the first part is pivotally connectable to the sliding door or the fixed structure by the biasing mechanism and the second part is pivotally and slidably connectable to the other of the sliding door or fixed structure by the slide assembly.

In other embodiments, the first part is pivotally connectable to the sliding door or the fixed structure by the biasing mechanism and the second part slidably bears against the other of the sliding door or fixed structure.

The fixed structure may be any suitable fixed structure. Suitable fixed structures are known to a person skilled in the art. The fixed structure may a door frame, guide track arrangement, wall, floor, pillar or beam.

The biasing mechanism may be connectable to the sliding door, fixed structure or any other structure. The biasing mechanism may comprise a mechanical biasing mechanism and/or electrical biasing mechanism. The mechanical biasing mechanism may comprise a resilient member, an elastic actuator, hydraulic actuator and/or pneumatic actuator. The elastic actuator may comprise a spring assembly. The biasing mechanism may comprise a force adjustment means for adjusting the force that can be applied to the arm by the biasing mechanism. The force adjustment means may be manually adjustable. The power adjustment means may comprise a valve or button. The biasing mechanism may comprise speed adjustment means. The speed adjustment means may enable adjustment of the maximum speed at which the biasing mechanism can induce linear movement of the sliding door relative to the fixed structure. The speed adjustment means may be manually adjustable. The speed adjustment means may comprise a valve or button.

The biasing mechanism may be connected to the sliding door, fixed structure or any other structure.

The biasing mechanism may be configured such that, in use, when the arm is connected to the sliding door or the fixed structure the biasing mechanism biases the arm to rotate and/or slide relative to the sliding door and/or the fixed structure to induce linear movement of the sliding door relative to the fixed structure.

The aforementioned statements of suitable features and advantages of the first or other aspect apply to any other aspects as described herein, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a sliding door assembly with sliding door operator, showing the sliding door in a substantially open position (solid lines) and a partially closed position (broken lines); and

Figure 2 is a partial isometric view of the sliding door assembly of figure 1, showing a slide assembly of the sliding door operator.

With reference to figures 1 and 2, a sliding door assembly 1 comprises a sliding door 2, sliding door gear 3 on which the sliding door 2 is slidably mounted, a door frame 4, and a sliding door operator 100 connected to the sliding door 2 and the door frame 4.

The door frame 4 has a top rail 4a supported over a floor 5 by two side rails 4c, 4d and defines a substantially rectangular aperture.

The sliding door 2 is a planar substantially rectangular leaf having top and bottom edges 2a, 2b respectively, and side edges 2c, 2d. The sliding door 2 has a height of 2850 mm and substantially fills the height of the frame 4, and a width of926 mm which is approximately half the width of the frame 4.

The top edge of the sliding door 2 is slidably mounted on a roller assembly (not shown) running in a guide track (not shown) mounted (by means of screw fasteners) on the underside of the top rail 4a of the door frame 4, enabling the sliding door 2 to move to and fro along the top rail 4a. A guide track is mounted to the floor 5 on each side of the door 2, which retains the door 2 within the frame 4. The roller assembly and guide track are comprised by the sliding door gear 3.

In use the frame 4 is mounted to a wall, or recessed into a wall, so that it partially extends over an aperture in the wall such that the sliding door 2 can move between a closed position where it covers the aperture and an open position where it does not.

The sliding door operator 100 comprises an arm 110 having a first part 111 and a second part 112, and a total length of 1250 mm. The first part 111 is slidably and rotatably connected to the sliding door side edge 2d by means of a slide assembly 120. The second part 112 is rotatably connected to a biasing mechanism 130, which biasing mechanism 113 is fixedly connected to the side rail 4d opposing the sliding door edge 2d.

The arm 110 is formed from an elongate strip of metal and comprises a stepped section separating a minor portion arranged proximal the biasing mechanism 130 and a major portion arranged proximal the sliding door side edge 2d. The step is dimensioned such that opposite ends of the arm 110 extend in substantially parallel spaced apart planes.

The slide assembly 120 is fixedly connected to the sliding door edge 2d (830 mm from the floor 5) using screw fasteners, such that the slide assembly 120 is arranged vertically and parallel to the sliding door edge 2d. It could be recessed into the door. The slide assembly 120 comprises a slide 121 which is slidable in a guide 122 (as shown in figure 2). The first part 111 is pivotally connected to the slide 121. In this way, the first part 111 is slidable within the guide 121 and pivotable about the slide 122.

The second part 112 is pivotally connected to a shaft of the biasing mechanism 130 (described in more detail below). The biasing mechanism 130 is fixedly connected to the side rail 4d (275 mm from the floor 5) using screw fasteners. The biasing mechanism 130 is of a type conventionally used to close hinged doors and will be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Nevertheless, briefly, the biasing mechanism 130 comprises a body with a shaft projecting therefrom. The body houses a spring arranged to bias the shaft to rotate relative to the body such as by urging a rack, arranged to slide in the body, relative to a pinion connected to the shaft. A damper is arranged to regulate the rate of rotation of the shaft relative to the body. The spring and damper forces are adjustable by means of external controls on the body to regulate the torque applied by the shaft and the maximum rate of rotation of the shaft.

In use, when the sliding door 2 is moved, by a user, to an open position (shown in solid lines in figure 1), towards the side rail 4d, this causes the first part of the arm 111 to slide upwards along the door edge 2d along the guide 122 rotating the shaft in a clockwise direction (when viewed from the side shown in Figure 1), against the spring force of the biasing mechanism 130. When the sliding door 2 is released, the spring force of the biasing mechanism 130 urges the shaft to rotate in an anticlockwise direction (when viewed as shown in figure 1) urging the door 2 back towards its closed position in which it partially or fully covers the aperture. In the fully closed position (not shown) the arm 110 moves towards (but does not reach) a position in which it is substantially perpendicular to the sliding door edge 2d.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the door operator 100 could be mounted with the slide assembly 120 on the door frame 4 and the biasing mechanism 130 on the door 2, and also that the slide assembly 120 can be dispensed with if the arm 100 is replaced with an arm having two, or more, pivotally connected portions. For example in one embodiment a first arm is mounted to the biasing mechanism 130 and a second arm is pivotally connected to the first arm and to either the sliding door 2 or door frame 4. Likewise, an end of a single arm connected to the biasing mechanism 130 need not be connected to the door 4 or fixed structure but instead could just bear against it.

The described example is intended for use as a personal door for a building. It will be appreciated though that the sliding door operator 100 may be used to operate larger doors. For larger and or heavier doors the spring force provided by the biasing mechanism 130 may be increased and/or multiple sliding door operators may be employed.

The above embodiment is described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sliding door assembly comprising: a sliding door, a fixed structure and a sliding door operator comprising an arm and a biasing mechanism, wherein a first part of the arm is movably connected to the sliding door or the fixed structure, a second part of the arm is movably connected to, or bears against, the other of the sliding door or fixed structure and the biasing mechanism is connected to the arm and configured to bias the arm to move relative to the sliding door and/or fixed structure so as to induce linear movement of the sliding door relative to the fixed structure.

2. A sliding door assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first part is disposed towards one end of the arm and the second part is disposed towards the opposite end of the arm.

3. A sliding door assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the first part of the arm is pivotally connected to a fixed point on the sliding door or fixed structure.

4. A sliding door assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the biasing mechanism is arranged to urge the arm to pivot about the pivotal connection to the fixed point on either the sliding door or fixed structure.

5. A sliding door assembly as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the arm is pivotally mounted to a fixed point on either the sliding door or fixed structure by the biasing mechanism.

6. A sliding door assembly as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5 wherein the second part of the arm is pivotally and slidably connected to the sliding door or fixed structure.

7. A sliding door assembly as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5 wherein the arm comprises two or more pivotally connected portions, the first part being on one portion and the second part on the other portion, one part is pivotally connected to the sliding door and the other is pivotally connected to the fixed structure.

8. A sliding door assembly as in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the fixed structure is a door frame, guide track arrangement, wall, floor, pillar or beam.

9. A sliding door assembly as claimed in of claims 1 to 8 wherein the sliding door is slidably mounted to the fixed structure by sliding door gear.

10. A sliding door assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sliding door operator is of a type claimed in any of claims 11 to 25.

11. A sliding door operator comprising: an arm having a length of at least 1000 mm, a first part of the arm being movably connectable to a sliding door or a fixed structure and a second part of the arm being movably connectable to, or arranged in use to bear against, the other of the sliding door or the fixed structure; and a biasing mechanism configured such that, in use, when the arm is connected to the sliding door and the fixed structure the biasing mechanism biases the arm to move relative to the sliding door and/or the fixed structure to induce linear movement of the sliding door relative to the fixed structure.

12. A sliding door operator as claimed in claim 11 wherein the arm has a length of at least 1050 mm, 1100 mm, 1150 mm, 1200 mm, 1250 mm, 1300 mm, 1350 mm, 1400 mm or 1450 mm.

13. A sliding door operator as claimed in either claim 11 or 12 wherein the arm comprises a stepped section.

14. A sliding door operator as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13 wherein the first part is disposed towards one end of the arm and the second part is disposed towards the opposite end of the arm.

15. A sliding door operator as claimed in any of claims 11 to 14 wherein the first part is pivotally connectable to the sliding door or the fixed structure.

16. A sliding door operator as claimed in claim 15 wherein the first part is pivotally connected to a mounting structure arranged to be fixedly mounted to the sliding door or a fixed structure.

17. A sliding door operator as claimed in claim 16 wherein the biasing mechanism is comprised in the mounting structure.

18. A sliding door operator as claimed in any of claims 11 to 17 wherein the second part is pivotally connectable to the other of the sliding door or the fixed structure.

19. A sliding door operator as claimed in claim 18 wherein the second part is pivotally and slidably connectable to the other of the sliding door or the fixed structure.

20. A sliding door operator as claimed in claim 19 wherein the second part is pivotally and slidably connectable to the other of the sliding door or the fixed structure by a slide assembly.

21. A sliding door operator as claimed in claim 20 wherein the slide assembly comprises a slide and a guide, the second part of the arm is pivotally connected to the slide, the slide is slidable in the guide and the guide is arranged to be fixedly mounted on the other of the sliding door or fixed structure.

22. A sliding door operator as claimed in any of claims 11 to 18 wherein the arm comprises two or more pivotally connected portions, the first part on one portion and the second part on the other portion of the arm.

23. A sliding door operator as claimed in any of claims 11 to 22 wherein the biasing

5 mechanism comprises a resilient member.

24. A sliding door operator as claimed in any of claims 11 to 23 wherein the biasing mechanism is arranged to urge the arm to pivot about a point to which either the first or second part of the arm is mounted.

25. A sliding door operator as claimed in any of claims 11 to 24 wherein the biasing

10 mechanism comprises a rotary actuatorto which either the first or second part of the arm is mounted.

Intellectual Property Office