ITBS20080145A1 - SUPPORT DEVICE FOR SLIDING DOOR LEAVES - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a support device for sliding door leaves, for example glass or wooden doors.

The sliding door sector, especially with glass doors, is experiencing a notable development; particularly appreciated is the characteristic of these doors to reduce the overall dimensions in opening and closing compared to a traditional swing door.

The retractable sliding doors, for which the door enters a casing housed in the wall when the door is open, are particularly popular in the case of doors made of wood or other materials.

The sliding doors with glass door, on the contrary, leave the door visible even when open; in the latter case, in particular, the device that allows the door to be supported and to slide takes on considerable aesthetic and functional importance.

The prevailing aesthetic taste, in fact, tends to make the support device, made up of a track and a trolley sliding on the track, which supports the door, less visible as possible, to leave the effect of the glass in evidence.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a support device for sliding door leaves which is particularly contained in the overall dimensions and conceals the internal mechanisms from the observer, as far as possible, in order to achieve a minimalist aesthetic.

This object is achieved by a device made in accordance with claim 1. The claims dependent on it describe variants of embodiment.

The characteristics and advantages of the device according to the present invention will be evident from the description given below, given by way of non-limiting example, in accordance with the attached figures, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the support device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 represents a plan view of the assembly according to the present invention, according to a further embodiment;

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the assembly according to the present invention, in accordance with a still further embodiment; And

Figure 4 illustrates a plan view of the assembly according to the present invention, in accordance with a further embodiment.

In accordance with the invention, a glass door assembly 1 comprises a leaf 2 and a support device 4 for sliding support of the leaf.

The support device comprises a track 6 having a prevalent extension along a sliding axis X, coinciding with the sliding direction of the door.

The device 4 comprises at least one wheel 8, resting on the track and suitable for rolling on it.

The surfaces of the roller and the track in contact with each other are shaped so as to be coupled with shape coupling: for example, the track has a convex surface with a circular section, while the roller has a concave surface, which is also circular.

The device 4 further comprises at least one support element 10, connected at one end of it to the wheel 8, for example to the axle of the latter; the support element 10 is released in rotation from the roller, while it is integral in translation with the latter, for example through the use of intermediate rolling bearings.

The support element 10 is connected, at the other end, to the door leaf, for example by means of at least one fixing group 12.

For example, the fixing assembly 12 comprises:

- a threaded bushing 14, inserted through the support element 10 and internally threaded;

- an external stop 16, resting on the external face of the leaf, arranged between the fixing element and the leaf, preferably at least partially fitted on the part of the bush protruding from the connecting element 10;

- an internal stop 18, resting on the internal face of the door; And

- a connecting screw 20, which passes through the external stop and the internal stop and is screwed into the bushing.

The track 6 comprises a tubular wall 22 provided with a cut 24 which extends along the sliding axis, at least partially below the roller 8.

In other words, the cut 24 is surmounted, at least partially, by the wheel 8, which rests on track 6 for the remainder.

For example, the tubular wall 22 has a transverse section, ie formed on a plane perpendicular to the sliding axis, with an open circular crown.

In further embodiments, the cross section is formed by segments of an annulus, which make it incomplete.

In particular, the tubular wall comprises a front wall portion 26, facing towards the connecting element 10 and a rear portion 28, connected to the front portion, arranged on the opposite side to the front wall.

Preferably, moreover, the device 4 comprises a blade 30, integral in translation with the roller 8 and released in rotation from this, for example connected to the axle by means of intermediate rolling bearings.

The blade 30 penetrates at least partially inside the tubular wall 22, through the cut 24 of the latter.

According to a preferred embodiment, the blade 30 comprises a drop 30a, which from the roller, for example from its axle, penetrates the tubular wall 22, and a rod 30b, which extends along the sliding axis X, for example entirely contained in the tubular wall 22.

According to a preferred embodiment, the blade 30 comprises a coupling ring 30c for coupling to the wheel 8.

Furthermore, the roller 8 is preferably split into two half-wheels 8a, 8b each on one side with respect to the hooking ring 30c.

According to a variant of construction, the wheel is unique and is completely on one side with respect to the coupling ring.

Furthermore, the track 6 preferably comprises a fixing wall 32, protruding from the track 6 and suitable for being fixed to the support of the device 4, for example a vertical masonry wall (figure 2), a ceiling (figures 3 and 4), etc.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fixing wall 32 protrudes from the rear wall 28, identifying a lower section 28a, which connects the fixing wall 32 to the front wall 26, and in the upper section 28b, which goes from the connection with the fixing wall when cut 24.

Preferably, the device 4 comprises anti-release means suitable for preventing disengagement between the roller 8 and the track 6.

According to an embodiment, the anti-release means comprise a check pin 40, inserted through the connecting element 10 and ending below the tubular wall 22 of the track 6 (Figure 2).

The reference pin 40 is in contact with the tubular wall, to prevent the detachment of the roller 8 from the track 6 by lifting.

According to a further embodiment, the anti-release means comprise an enlarged element 50, fixed to the blade 30, oversized with respect to the cut 24, so as to prevent the blade from coming out of the tubular wall and thus avoiding the detachment of the roller from the track. .

For example, the enlarged element 50 consists of a small cylinder fixed, for example by screwing or by means of grains, to the end of the rod 30b of the blade 30.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device 1 comprises abutment means suitable for providing a fixed abutment for the roller 8 and therefore for the leaf 2.

For example, the abutment means comprise a abutment element 60 fixed, for example by means of grains, inside the tubular wall, against which the blade 30 or the enlarged element 50 comes into contact.

According to a further embodiment, the device 1 comprises releasable locking means, suitable for keeping the device locked in a desired position along the track, releasable by hand.

For example, the releasable locking means comprise an elastically expandable collar 62, formed by a plurality of petals 63 arranged annularly, and a protrusion 64 with an enlarged head, protruding from the blade 30.

More specifically, the collar 62 is made in one piece with the abutment element 60, while the projection 64 is made in one piece with the enlarged element 50.

By making the door slide, the projection 64 engages the collar 62, expanding it and engaging in snap with it; in this way, the leaf remains locked in one position, but can be released from the abutment element 60 by pulling in the opposite direction, until the projection 64 comes out of the collar 62.

According to a further embodiment, the device comprises shock-absorbing means, for example a soft element (not shown), arranged in the tubular wall.

The rod 30, during its stroke, collides with the soft element, which dampens its stroke.

According to a further embodiment, the device 4 is suitable for supporting two parallel leaves for sliding (Figure 4).

In this embodiment, the device 4 is symmetrical and has a central unit for connection to the ceiling.

Innovatively, the support device according to the present invention allows to minimize the visual impact.

Advantageously, the appearance is particularly minimalist, since anti-release means, locking means, shock-absorbing means and any other functional components are concealed by the tubular wall.

According to a further advantageous aspect, the manufacture of the device is simple and rationalized, since the tubular wall performs the function of cooperating in the anti-release and supporting the wheels.

According to a still further advantageous aspect, the assembly of the device is simple, since the components are inserted into the tubular wall and fixed to the wall or to the ceiling, the locking takes place by simply screwing the grub screws.

It is clear that a person skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent needs, could make changes to the device described above, all of which are contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS 1. Support device (4) for sliding door leaves, in particular glass doors, comprising: - a track (6) having a prevalent extension along a sliding axis (X) which can be fixed to a fixed support, such as a wall, a ceiling and the like, in which the track comprises a tubular wall (22) provided with a cut (24) along the sliding axis; - a wheel (8) suitable for rolling on the tubular wall of the track; in which the wheel is at least partially superimposed on the cut and is integral in translation with a blade (30) which penetrates the tubular wall through the cut (24) to influence functional components. 2. Device according to claim 1, comprising anti-release means, suitable for preventing disengagement of the roller from the tubular wall, housed in the tubular wall. 3. Device according to claim 2, in which the anti-release means comprise an enlarged element (50) integral with the blade (30), housed inside the tubular wall, oversized with respect to the cut (24) of the tubular wall, to prevent disengagement of the wheel from the track. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising releasable locking means suitable for locking the door in a predefined position along the sliding axis and for releasing it manually from the lock, housed in the tubular wall. 5. Device according to claim 4, in which the locking means comprise an elastically expandable collar (62), fixed in the tubular frame, and a protrusion (64) with enlarged head, integral with the blade (30), which can be snap-engaged / disengaged from the collar (62). 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising shock-absorbing means housed in the tubular wall. 7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the shock-absorbing means comprises a soft element received in the tubular wall. 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising abutment means suitable for providing a fixed abutment for the roller (8) and therefore for the leaf (2), housed in the tubular wall. 9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the abutment means comprise a abutment element (60) fixed inside the tubular wall, against which the blade (30) abuts. 10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the blade (30) comprises a drop (30a) which penetrates the tubular wall (22) and a rod (30b), connected to the drop (30a), which extends mainly along the sliding axis (X). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the blade (30) comprises a coupling ring (30c) for coupling to the roller (8). Device according to claim 11, in which the roller (8) is single and is completely on one side with respect to the coupling ring (30c). 13. Device according to claim 11, wherein the roller (8) is split into two half-wheels (8a, 8b) each on one side with respect to the coupling ring (30c). 13. An assembly (1) comprising - a door (2), preferably in glass; - a sliding support device (4) made according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one connecting element (10) integral in translation with the roller, connected to the leaf.