NZ546560A - Water drain device for a sliding door frame - Google Patents

Abstract

A drainage system for a sliding door floor channel consisting of a hollow water tight casing 14 attached to a drain outlet in the floor channel. The casing has a bottom opening 10 a certain distance below the drain outlet 8, with a cross-sectional area smaller than of the casing so that water can collect inside it and form a water head.

Description

intellectual property office of n.z. 1 2 FEB 2007 received PATENTS ACT 1953 After Provisional No: 546560 Dated: 13 April 2006 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION DEVICE FOR A SLIDING DOOR FRAME We Aluminium Systems NZ Limited, of 3 Timaru Place, Mt Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand, a New Zealand company, hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - 1 - (the following page is numbered la) DEVICE FOR A SLIDING DOOR FRAME TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a device for a sliding door frame. In particular the invention related to an extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally in the design of sliding door frames, provision must be made for draining water collecting in the floor channel, to outside of the building. This generally involves providing several drain outlets at the bottom of the floor channel extrusion in the side wall or bottom wall in such a position that water can drain to the outside. However, 10 due to atmospheric pressure differences across the sliding door due to wind on the building, it is necessary to ensure that the water collecting in the floor channel cannot be blown back to inside the building by air pressure at the drain outlets.

Therefore a blow back prevention system is required by the New Zealand building regulations to ensure this does not happen. One method is to stipulate the depth of the 15 floor channel in which the drain outlet is provided. This ensures that for water to be blown back into the building, the pressure on the outside of the building must be at least equal to the head of water that can collect in the floor channel. This depth of channel will differ depending on the climatic wind strength for the region. Therefore for different regions, the minimum depth of the floor channel will be different. Hence the builder must 20 choose the correct depth channel when installing the door frame.

The situation can therefore arise where the wrong depth floor channel is installed, necessitating the complete replacement of the floor channel, which can be costly, time consuming, and inconvenient.

Of course a deep floor channel which meets the maximum wind strength 25 requirements for the whole country could always be fitted, however having a deep channel poses unnecessary design problems, and additional cost. > „ DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to address the above problems with sliding door frame installations, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice. la INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z.

H APR 2008 RECEIVED According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel, comprising: a hollow casing with water tight walls, and with a top opening at or in the vicinity of a top end thereof and a bottom opening at or in the vicinity of a bottom end thereof, and 5 with a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the hollow casing such that in use, water can collect inside the casing to provide a water head; and attachment means for attaching the casing to a sliding door floor channel such that the top opening can be sealingly communicated with a drain outlet in the floor channel, with the bottom opening a predetermined distance below the drain outlet.

By providing such an extension device, then in the case where for example a door frame with insufficient floor channel depth has been fitted, the extension device can be fitted to the existing floor channel to thereby provide the required water head for the drain outlet. As such, it is not necessary to replace the installed door frame with a door frame having a deeper floor channel.

Moreover, such a device enables standardisation of design for sliding door frames, since the prescribed water head can be provided for a standard depth floor channel by fitting an appropriate depth extension device. Furthermore, cost can be kept down since the channel depth of the floor channel can be minimised, and design problems inherent with deeper channels can be reduced.

The casing may be any suitable shape which can ensure a water tight vertical channel from the drain outlet at the bottom of the floor channel, to the bottom opening.

Preferably the casing is substantially rectangular in cross-section with two major side walls and two minor side walls, and the bottom opening is constituted by an opening formed in the bottom end of the casing, or an opening formed in the side wall in the vicinity of the bottom end, that has a smaller cross-sectional area than the rectangular cross-section of the casing.

By having a substantially rectangular cross-section for the casing, the extension device can be easily fitted into a structure below a floor channel.

The attachment means may comprise any suitable means whereby the casing can be attached to the sliding door floor channel such that the top opening can be sealingly communicated with a drain outlet in the floor channel, with the bottom opening a predetermined distance below the drain outlet. 2 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z.

H APR 2008 RECEIVED For example this may be achieved by bonding the casing to the floor channel so as to provide a sealed and secure attachment.

According to one aspect of the extension device according to the present invention, adapted to be fitted to a floor channel with a downwards facing drain outlet in a bottom 5 wall of the floor channel, the top opening may be a top face top opening, and the attachment means may comprise an extension of at least one of the major side walls, which is adapted to be attached to a side face of the floor channel, such that the top opening is communicated with the downward facing drain outlet.

In the case of this configuration, sealing to the bottom face of the floor channel 10 may be provided by a seal member fitted to a top surface of the casing.

With such a construction the extension device can be easily fitted to a sliding door floor channel with a downwards facing drain outlet in a bottom wall, for example by a screw through the extension of the major side wall into the side wall of the floor channel. By using a screw or the like for attachment, the extension device can be easily removed 15 for replacement or cleaning. Moreover one or more extension devices can be easily fitted at optional locations along the floor channel.

The seal member can be selected and fitted to suit the application. However if the contact surfaces are made sufficiently smooth, a separate seal member may not be necessary, with sealing being effected by tightly fitting the surfaces together.

According to another aspect of the extension device according to the present invention, adapted to be fitted to a floor channel with a side facing drain outlet in a side wall of the floor channel, the top opening may be a side facing top opening, and the attachment means may comprise one or more lugs formed on the hollow casing, and adapted to attach the hollow casing to a side face of the floor channel, such that the side 25 opening is communicated with the side facing drain outlet.

In the case of this configuration, sealing to the side face of the floor channel may be provided by a seal member fitted to a side surface of the casing.

With such a construction, the extension device can be securely attached in position by means of screws or rivets connecting the lug or lugs to the side face of the floor 30 channel.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 14 APR 2008 received! * According to yet another aspect of an extension device according to the present invention, adapted to be fitted to a floor channel with a side facing drain outlet in a side wall of the floor channel, the top opening may be a side facing top opening, and the attachment means may comprise a protruding rim extending from an edge of the side 5 facing top opening, and adapted to be inserted into the drain outlet, such that the hollow casing is attached to a side face of the floor channel, with the side opening communicated with the side facing drain outlet.

The protruding rim may be in any suitable form which can be inserted into the drain outlet to provide at least a temporary attachment. With such a construction the 10 extension device can be easily fitted to a floor channel with a side facing drain outlet in a side wall, by fitting the protruding rim into the drain outlet.

Preferably the bottom opening is further provided with a one way valve device adapted to allow water to flow out from inside the casing and to prevent air or water from being forced back to inside the casing.

By providing a one way valve device, the ability of the extension device to prevent water from being blown back into the inside of the building can be further enhanced. For example, even if there is no water collected inside the casing to provide the water head, moisture or draft can be kept from being blown into the building from the outside.

The one way valve may comprise any suitable means whereby flow in one 20 direction can be restricted. For example this may be a flat plate suitably hinged with respect to the casing, so as to cover the opening. Alternatively this may be a spring loaded plate slidingly supported on a shaft perpendicular to the plate, so as to be able to shut off the opening.

The material used for the extension device is not particularly limited, provided it 25 can ensure a durable watertight construction. For example this may be sheet steel, extruded aluminium, or plastics, or a combination of these.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of extending a drain outlet position of a sliding door floor channel to a predetermined position below the floor channel, comprising fitting an extension device for a drain outlet 30 of a sliding door floor channel substantially as described above, to the floor channel such INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 14 APR RECEIVED that the top opening of the extension device is sealingly communicated with the drain outlet of the floor channel.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a sliding door installation fitted with at least one extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding 5 door floor channel substantially as described above.

The present invention may also broadly be said to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of the parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known 10 equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the 15 accompanying drawing in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel according to one embodiment of the present invention (downward facing outlet); FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the extension device of FIG. 1, fitted to a 20 typical sliding door floor channel extrusion; FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the arrows A-A of FIG. 2, without an extension device fitted; FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the arrows A-A of FIG. 2, with the extension device fitted; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel according to another embodiment of the present invention (side facing outlet); FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the extension device of FIG. 5, fitted to a typical sliding door floor channel extrusion; FIG. 7 is a sectional view on the arrows A-A of FIG. 6, without an extension device fitted; and FIG. 8 is a sectional view on the arrows A-A of FIG. 6, with the extension device fitted.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures.

A first embodiment of an extension device according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4.

This extension device generally indicated by arrow 1, is adapted to be fitted to a sliding door floor channel 4 with a downward facing drain outlet 2 (FIG. 4), so as to extend the drain outlet 2 position to a predetermined position below the floor channel 4. In FIG. 4 this predetermined position is a distance X below a water level WL allowed by the New Zealand building regulations for the floor channel 4. The extension device 1 comprises a hollow casing 6 with water tight walls, and with a top face top opening 8 at a top end thereof, and a bottom opening 10 at or in the vicinity of a bottom end 12 thereof. As is apparent from Figures 1, 2 and 4, the cross-sectional area of the bottom opening 10 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the hollow casing 6. The area of the bottom opening 10 can be determined such that in use, water can collect inside the casing 6 to provide the necessary water head. In this embodiment the casing 6 is substantially rectangular in cross-section with two major side walls 14 and two minor side walls 16. Moreover the casing 6 is provided with attachment means generally indicated by arrow 18 for attaching the casing 6 to a bottom face 20 of the sliding door floor channel 4 such that the top opening 8 can be sealingly communicated with the drain outlet 2 in the floor channel 4, with the bottom opening 10 the predetermined distance X below the drain outlet 2.

In this embodiment the attachment means 18 comprises an extension 22 of at least one of the major side walls 8, which is adapted to be attached to a side face 24 of the floor channel 4.

Here the extension 22 is attached to the side face 24 by a fastener 30 such as a screw or a rivet at a central portion. Moreover there is also provision for additional fasteners 32 on flange portions 34 protruding perpendicular to the tip edges of the minor side walls 14, to ensure a sealed attachment. 6 The connection region between the extension device 1 and the floor channel 4 may be sealed with a sealant. However it may be preferable to provide a seal member. In this embodiment a seal member 26 (FIG. 1) is fitted to a top surface 28 of the casing 6.

If screws are used for the fasteners 30 and 32, the extension device 1 can be easily 5 removed for cleaning, or for fitting a different depth extension device 1. With such an attachment method, one or more extension devices 1 can be easily fitted at optional locations along the floor channel 4.

In this embodiment the bottom opening 10 is further provided with a one way valve device generally indicated by arrow 36 (FIG. 4) which is adapted to allow water to flow out from inside 10 the casing 6 and to prevent air or water from being forced back to inside of the casing 6.

This one way valve 36 may comprise any suitable means whereby flow in one direction can be restricted. For example in this embodiment it comprises a flat plate 38 suitably hinged relative to the side wall 14 of the casing 6, so as to cover the opening 10. Alternatively this may be a spring loaded plate slidingly supported on a shaft perpendicular to the plate, so as to be able to 15 shut off the opening 10 when the pressure outside is greater than inside the casing 6, for example when there is no water inside the casing 6, and a strong wind blows on the outside.

A second embodiment of an extension device according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols and their description is omitted.

This extension device generally indicated by arrow 101, is adapted to be fitted to sliding door floor channel 104 with a side facing drain outlet 102 (FIG. 8), so as to extend the drain outlet 102 position to a predetermined position below the floor channel 104. In FIG. 8 this predetermined position is a distance X below a water level WL allowed by the New Zealand building regulations for the floor channel 104. The extension device 101 comprises a hollow 25 casing 106 with water tight walls, and with a side facing top opening generally indicated by arrow 108 at or in the vicinity of a top end thereof, and a bottom opening 10 (the same as for the first embodiment), at or in the vicinity of a bottom end 112 thereof. In this configuration also, it is apparent from Figures 5, 6 and 8, the cross-sectional area of the bottom opening 10 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the hollow casing 106. As mentioned for the first embodiment, the area 30 of the bottom opening 10 can be determined such that in use, water can collect inside the casing 6 to provide the necessary water head. In this embodiment the casing 106 is substantially rectangular in cross-section with two major side walls 114 and two minor side walls 116.

Moreover the casing 106 is provided with an attachment device generally indicated by arrow 118 for attaching OFFICE OF N.Z 11, APR 2008 RECEIVED. the casing 106 to a side face 120 of the sliding door floor channel 104 such that the side facing top opening 108 can be sealingly communicated with the drain outlet 102 in the floor channel 104, with the bottom opening 10 the predetermined distance X below the drain outlet 102.

In this embodiment the attachment means 118 comprises two lugs 122 formed on the hollow casing 106, and adapted to attach the hollow casing 106 to the side face 120 of the floor channel 104, such that the side opening 108 can be sealingly communicated with the side facing drain outlet 102.

In order to assist in attachment and alignment, a protruding rim 123 is provided 10 extending from an edge of the side facing top opening 108, and adapted to be inserted into the drain outlet 102. Rims are also be provided in the bottom and side of the opening 108 for sealing the connection portion.

The connection region between the extension device 104 and the floor channel 104 may be sealed with a sealant. However it may be preferable to provide a seal member in 15 the form of a rubber ring or gasket fitted to a surface of the side wall 114 of the casing 106 around the top opening 108.

Once fitted in position, the extension device 101 is secured to the side face 120 by fasteners 130 such as screws or rivets.

If screws are used for the fasteners 130, the extension device 101 can be easily 20 removed for cleaning, or for fitting a different depth extension device 101. With such an attachment method, one or more extension devices 101 can be easily fitted at optional locations along the floor channel 104.

As with the first embodiment, the bottom opening 10 is further provided with a one way valve device generally indicated by arrow 36 which is adapted to allow water to flow 25 out from inside the casing 106 and to prevent air or water from being forced back to inside of the casing 106. Other details of the one way valve are as described for the first embodiment In the embodiments the extension device 1 (101) is formed from moulded plastics material, as an integral unit. However it may be formed from aluminium or sheet steel or 30 a combination of these and plastic depending on design requirements. 8 In operation, with the extension device 1 (101) fitted to the floor channel 4 (104) and sealed by an appropriate means (i.e. a sealant or a seal member), in the case where a strong wind blows so that the outside pressure is greater than that inside the building, air will tend to blow into the building through the bottom opening 10. However in the case where the one way valve device 36 is fitted, this will tend to stop such air flow and thus prevent drafts. Moreover, in the case where the region below the floor channel 4 (104) is wet, water can enter through the bottom opening 10, so that the casing 6 (106) will fill with water to a certain depth. Furthermore rain water draining down into the floor channel will tend to fill the casing since it will be prevented from draining out due to the air pressure at the drain outlet. However, for water to fill to the top of the casing 6 (106), i.e. to inside the floor channel 4 (104) and hence into the building, the pressure difference must be greater than the water head for the depth X from the bottom opening 10 to the water level WL, stipulated by the New Zealand building regulations for the floor channel 4 (104). Since this depth X is chosen to meet water head requirements for the particular location of the building, then the water will not fill to the top.

The depth X is made less than a total possible depth L2 (FIG. 4 and FIG. 8) at which water would spill into the building. This gives a safety margin for the installation. A typical depth for L2 may be 100 mm which would give a water head of 1 kPa. Hence the pressure difference across the sliding door, for water to flow into the building would need to be 1 kPa.

In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the flow of water draining from inside the building is shown by arrows. In FIG. 3 and FIG. 7, without the extension device fitted to the floor channel 4 (104), the maximum depth is Li, which may typically be 45 mm which would give a water head of 450 Pa. Hence in this case, the pressure difference across the sliding door, for water to flow into the building would be only 450 Pa.

We believe the advantages of our invention to be as follows, however it should be appreciated that all such advantages may not be realised on all embodiments of the invention and the following list is given by way of example only as being indicative of potential advantages of the present invention. Furthermore it is not intended that the advantages of the present invention be restricted to those of the list which follows: 1. By providing such an extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel, then in the case where for example a door frame of insufficient floor channel depth has been fitted, the extension device can be fitted to the existing floor channel to 9 thereby provide the required water head for the drain outlet. As such it is not necessary to replace the installed door frame with a door frame having a deeper floor channel. 2 Such a device enables standardisation of design for sliding door frames, since the prescribed water head can be provided for a standard depth floor channel by fitting an appropriate depth extension device. 3. Cost can be kept down since the channel depth of the floor channel can be minimised, and design problems inherent with deeper channels can be reduced. 4. By having a casing substantially rectangular in cross-section, the extension device can be easily fitted into a structure below a floor channel.

. By providing a one way valve device to the bottom opening, the ability of the extension device to prevent water from being blown back into the inside of the building can be further enhanced, and drafts can be minimised.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (13)

What we claim is:

1. An extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel, comprising: a hollow casing with water tight walls, and with a top opening at or in the vicinity of a top end thereof and a bottom opening at or in the vicinity of a bottom end thereof, and 5 with a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said hollow casing such that in use, water can collect inside said casing to provide a water head; and attachment means for attaching said casing to a sliding door floor channel such that said top opening can be sealingly communicated with a drain outlet in the floor channel, with said bottom opening a predetermined distance below said drain outlet. 10

2. An extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel according to claim 1, wherein said casing is substantially rectangular in cross-section with two major side walls and two minor side walls, and said bottom opening is constituted by an opening formed in the bottom end of said casing or an opening formed in one of said side walls in the vicinity of said bottom end, that has a smaller cross-sectional area than the rectangular 15 cross-section of said casing.

3. An extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel according to either one of claim 1 and claim 2, adapted to be fitted to a floor channel with a downwards facing drain outlet in a bottom wall of the floor channel, wherein said top opening is a top face top opening, and said attachment means comprises an extension of at least one of said 20 major side walls, which is adapted to be attached to a side face of said floor channel, such that said top opening is communicated with said downward facing drain outlet.

4. An extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel according to claim 3, further comprising a seal member fitted to a top surface of said casing.

5. An extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel according to 25 either one of claim 1 and claim 2, adapted to be fitted to a floor channel with a side facing drain outlet in a side wall of the floor channel, wherein said top opening is a side facing top opening, and said attachment means comprises one or more lugs formed on said hollow casing, and adapted to attach said hollow casing to a side face of said floor channel, such that said side facing top opening is communicated with said side facing drain outlet.

6. An extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel according to claim 5, further comprising a seal member fitted to a side surface of said casing. 11

7. An extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel according to either one of claim 5 and claim 6, further comprising a protruding rim extending from an edge of said side facing top opening, and adapted to be inserted into said drain outlet.

8. An extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel according to 5 either one of claim 1 and claim 2, adapted for a sliding door floor channel with a side facing drain outlet in a side wall of the floor channel, wherein said top opening is a side facing top opening, and said attachment means comprises a protruding rim extending from an edge of said side facing top opening, and adapted to be inserted into said drain outlet, such that said hollow casing is attached to a side face of said floor channel, with said side 10 facing top opening communicated with said side facing drain outlet.

9. An extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel according to any one of claim 1 through claim 8, wherein said bottom opening is further provided with a one way valve device adapted to allow water to flow out from inside said casing and to prevent air or water from being forced back to inside said casing. 15

10. A method of extending a drain outlet position of a sliding door floor channel to a predetermined position below the floor channel; comprising fitting an extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel according to any one of claim 1 through claim 9, to said floor channel such that said top opening of said extension device is communicated with said drain outlet of said floor channel. 20

11. A sliding door installation fitted with at least one extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel according to any one of claim 1 through claim 9.

12. An extension device for a drain outlet of a sliding door floor channel substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the appended drawings.

13. A method of extending a drain outlet position of a sliding door floor channel 25 substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the appended drawings. Dated this 9th day of February 2007 Aluminium Systems NZ Limited 30 By their Patent Attorney M. J. SERVICE & ASSOCI 14 APR 2008 RECElVPn