US2408525A

US2408525A - Folding door

Info

Publication number: US2408525A
Application number: US544800A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert A Miller; Howard Carroll
Original assignee: Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co
Current assignee: PPG Industries Inc
Priority date: 1944-07-13
Filing date: 1944-07-13
Publication date: 1946-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 1963-10-01

Description

Oct. l., 1946. R. A. MILLER -ETAL l 2,408,525

n=u n=0 FOLDING DOOR Filed July l5, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet l Oct; l, 1946. I R. A. MILLER ET AL 408,525 I AFOLDING DOOR Boag 12 Afl/ LER (2n/2201. l. /o wann Oct. 1, 194,6. R. A'. MILLER ET AL FOLDING DOOR Filed July 13,- 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 OS w O Qct. l, 1946. R. A. MILLER ET AL FOLDING DOOR e 'sheets-sheet 4 Fiieq July 13, 1944 Oct.y 1, 1946.

R. A. MILLER ET AL v 2,408,525

tFOLDING DOOR Filed'July 13, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Rf A. MILLER ET AL FOLDING DOOR Filed July is, 1944 e sheets-sheet 6 \\\\\\v \\\LMWM\.D l :Ic/mwN. 3mm w ,www E l Eo @0 Q. m n |I|/\l.|l.)\

m nw@ l v w www@ L k Siwa @ma Patented Oct. 1, 1946 FOLDING DOR Robert A. Miller, Tarentum, and Carroll Howard, Rochester',- Pa., assignors4 to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, a. corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 13, 1944-, Serial No; 544,800

Another object of: the invention, is to-provide an improved fold-ing door structure adapted tolse installed in conjunction withparticular struc-- ture of deck houses and otherk superstructureV of: ships.

Another object of the invention is' tof provide an improved door structure and hinged; connec-y tions between aseri-es of folding door: units and supports for movably carrying and shifting; the position of the entire door structure.

I-n onel form of the invention a series of glass doorV units aresupported upon overhead tracksby means of spaced trolleys'. Certain of thedoor units are connectedtogetheradiaeent-their edges in! hinged relation: remote from the location` of the trolleys and: others areconnected directly below the trolleys. In this arrangement the doorsare hinged: either to. trolley extensions or torintermediate posts so arranged that each door can he swung bod-ily outwardly fromthe vertical plane of the overl'iead,` trolleys.i The severaiV doorI units thus connected can be moved as a unit onto an auxiliary support which i-s-v itself hinged so that the structure can be shifted into' a compartment.-

'Ihe upper and lower portions ot the structure are guided by meansofrollerstravelling between track members formed by upper' andflower. rails. In order to traverse a relatively large space between deck house walls of a shiporloetween other or similar walls, two folding. door structures are employed., each Vto be operated asy aunit. and extended from. oppositedirections soA as to meet at. acertrai location between the deck houses. The inne-r or adjacent. units of each` of. these structuresare independently hinged upon. part. of the movable. structure. to provide.. swinging. double doors for passage from` onev side. to thel other. of the structure.. i 1 y Y When this type of structure isapplied to. a sloping deck the door hinges are so arranged that the. door whenffolded, swing. ont` over the downwardly sloping portion of the deck which will oiier no.interference;totheoperation of the doors.

lin. the drawingsz.

Fig.. 1` is a. fragmentary diagrammatic side ele- 1 12 Claims.. (Cl. 160-36)l therefor; Fig. 2 isa combined diagrammatic plan andy horizon-ta1 section of compartment structure and door units in folded relation; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic horizontal section of folding door structure taken substantial-ly along ther lin-e III- III of Fig.. 1;v Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, on a larger scale, also taken substantially along thev line III-LII of Fig. l=,.but with portions vation; of folding. door structures and supports of the structure` omitted;V Fig.I 5 is. 2,. confiloinedv fragmentary side elevation. and vertical section illustrating in detail an end portion of the. door structure; Fig.. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation. combined with a vertical section of acentralportion ofthe folding door structure and including. a trolley assembly, all on a larger scale; Fig... 7 is a bottom plan` of. a. portion.. of a lower door hinge and. roller arrangen'ient;l Fig. 8 is` o, fragmentary vertical section, on a. l'argerscale taken substantially along thev line VIII-VIII of Fig. 1.; Fig. 9 is. a cross-.section of a channel guide and cover mounted in a floor or deck; Fig.v 10. is a fragmentary side elevation. of trolleyy and door structure together with a vertical section of a. portion of. a lower channel guide; Fig. l1 isa fragmentary side elevationof adjacent. door units. together with hinging connections. therefor; Fig.4 12 is a bottom.. plan. of vthe central portion of the structure shown in Fig.. 11; Fis.` I3 is a fragmentary vertical lsection.taken.substantially along the line XIII-XIII of Fig. l.; andFig. 1dx isafragmentary vertical sectiony taken' substantially along. the line XIV-XIV. of Fig. 1.. In practicing theV invention a pair of. folding door structures 20 and 2L are carried between overhead superstructure. 2d and. a door or deck 24 of a ship. The surface. of the latter in certain instances may slope es. indicated in Figs. 1 3. and 14. In this particular description the folding door structures are. applied to a deck ofia ship.

A relatively long metal guide. 25 of channel form opening upwardly is rig-idly anchored in thel deck by mea-ns of fasteners 26. (Fig. 9) inf such manner that itl is. disposed slightly below the deck surface. A- cover railI or strip 29., having. a. hinge connection.Y Si). along one edge by which it is con.- nected to an. adjacent edge of. the channel guide, coversthe latter or leavesit open depending upon the. position ot the. folding door structures. thicker portici-for rib 3|- projecting.` from one. side of the taillis adapted toiit-intoethe channel guide so that the' rail maylie substantially ushl with the surface of the deck. as' indicated. in: Fig. 9.

The ship superstructure includes. deck houses 2d between which the folding door structures Opera-lief.. Each; of. the structuresincludes a. series of

door units

35, 33, 31, 38, and 33. Each of these units includes upper and lower metal channel frame members and 4| for receiving upper and lower marginal portions of door panels 42 which can be in the form of relatively heavy tempered glass plates transparent or semi-transparent, or opaque. The upper channel frames 4t include upwardly-extending flanges 45 and downwardlyextending flanges 45 which define oppositely facing double channel structure. Likewise, the bot,- tom channel frames 4| include upwardly and downwardly-extending flanges 48 and 43.

An overhead track 50 carried by the ship superstructure by means of suitable hangers 5| supports the folding door structures in suspended relation by means of

trolleys

52, 53, and 54, which travel upon inwardly turned and spaced flanges 5E of the track. Since the trolleys are all substantially the same in structure only one of them will be described in detail.

Each trolley includes a substantially horizontal frame having transverse horizontal axles 6| extending therethrough to support ,rotatably two pairs of wheels 52 which roll upon the track flanges 55. End portions of the frame between the wheels of the respective pairs extend downwardly to form bosses B4 having vertically tapped openings 55 in which vertical stud shafts 61 are screw-threaded to receive sleeve-like rollers 10 that are held in place by means of heads 1| on the lower ends of the shafts 51. A set-screw 12 which is screw-threaded into each boss 64 bears against the threaded stud shaft to prevent accidental displacement thereof. These rollers 10 fit between opposed edges of the track flanges 53 (Fig. 8), to assist in guiding the trolley linearly upon the tracks and to prevent the trolley from turning about a vertical axis. Y

A yoke 14, having an upwardly bowed bearing portion 15, extends freely between edges of the track iianges and is suspended from the central portion of each trolley frame upon a bolt 15 extending therethrough. The lower portion of the yoke includes an integral horizontal plate 18. l

The inner or first trolley 52 directly suspending the door unit 35 has its yoke 14 connected to an upright post (Fig. 5) in which a plug 8| is Welded for the purpose of carrying an upright bolt 82 rigidly secured thereon and which rigidly secures the yoke 14 to the post 80.

An upper stud shaft 04 having a lower head 85 is rigidly mounted by screw-threading or otherwise in the yoke plate 18 of the end trolley 52, and has a bearing mounting in a block 85, the latter being rigidly secured by means of screws 09 in the frame member 45 between its flanges 45. This block is located at the upper inner corner of the door unit 35.

The lower portion of the post 80 has a metal bar rigidly mounted thereon by means of suitable fasteners 9| and projects horizontally below and parallel to the plate 18. A stud shaft 02 of screw form is threaded through the bar 90 in axial vertical alignment with the upper stud shaft 84 and has an upper unthreaded bearing portion 94 which rotatably receives a lowerv block 95 mounted rigidly by means of screws 95between the downwardly-extending flanges 40 of the lower channel member 4|. The door unit 35 is thus hinged'adiacent its rear edge upon the stud shafts 84 and 02 for pivotal movement relative to the post 80 and about a vertical axis.

The lower end of the stud shaft 32 has a roller 08 mounted thereon and is maintained against displacement therefrom by means of a lower head.

portions of the door units |00 formed on the shaft. This roller is disposed in the channel guide 25 and cooperates with the rollers 10 in maintaining the door unit in proper movable relation along the track.

The second trolley 53 (Figs. 1 and 6) is located immediately above the junction of the

door units

35 and 31, the latter of which arespaced along their adjacent edges. A vertical post |02 is disposed between these adjacent edges. This post which is somewhat similar to the post 80 is bolted rigidly as indicated at |03 to the lower mid portion of the yoke plate 18 of the second or central trolley 53 and is thus suspended from the latter.

Upper stud shafts |04 having lower heads |05 are rigidly mounted by screw-threading or otherwise in spaced relation in the plate 'i8 of the second or central trolley 53, and they have bearing relation respectively with blocks |05, the latter of which are rigidly secured by means of screws |00 in the frame members 40 between the flanges 45. These blocks are located at the upper inner corners of the

door units

35 and 31 and the construction for mounting them corresponds substantially to that described above in connection with the hinging of the door unit 35.

A lower bar ||0 is also rigidly fastened to the post by means of a screw ||2 which is vertically threaded into the lower end of the post. This bar extends horizontally beyond opposite sides of the post and underlies the plate 18 for the purpose of receiving vertical stud shafts I4 which extend rotatably into blocks ||5, set between the lower flanges 49 of the channel frames 4| of the

door units

36 and 31. These blocks are held in place rigidly by means of screws H5 passing through the flanges 4S. The stud shafts l |4 have intermediate screw-threaded 'portions rigidly mounted in oppositely extending end portions of the bar ||0 and are provided with integral lower heads ||9 which support rollers |26 in the same manner as the stud shaft 92 supports the roller 98 and for the same purpose of guiding the door structure in the lower channel guide 25.

From this description it will be apparent that a' the yoke plate 18, post |02 and bar ||0 constitute a unitary support for the adjacent door units and all of these are suspended primarily from the trolley 53. Linear spacing of the upper rollers 10 and like spacing of the lower rollers |20 is such thatthis unitary support is maintained in predetermined relationship and held against turning about a vertical axis while carrying the hinge connections |04 and ||4 for pivotal action of the

door units

35 and 31 about vertical axes adjacent their opposing edges.

The third or inner end trolley 54 (Fig. l0) is constructed in substantially the same manner as those previously described with the exception that one horizontal endl portion of the yoke plate 13 is omitted, Therefore, reference characters employed in defining corresponding elements of the

trolleys

The yoke plate 18 of the trolley 54 is provided with an integral downwardly-extending arm |35 which is rigidly mounted in the upper end of the post section |3| by means of fasteners |36, such them a lblock v| in which a vertical stud shaft n is mounted. The block |38 is anchored by means of screws |4| passing through the block and fianges. The upper end of the studfshaft is threaded into the yoke plate 18 and the lower end thereof is provided with 'a head |42 to prevent displacement of the block therefrom,

A lower'bar |45 at the lower portion of the door unit is formed with an angular portion |40 rigidly mounted in the postsection screws |40. A studshaft has an intermediate portion screw-.threaded into the bar |45 in vertical and axial alignment with the stud shaft |40, and its upper end extends in bearing relation into a block |5| .that is rigidly mounted be* tween the lower flanges 40 Vof the door frame by means of screws |52 passing through the block and anges. These stud shafts |40 and |50 constitute hinging members for the door unit 38.

An upper plate |54 is formed with an angular arm .|156 that is rigidly mounted by means of screws |58 in the upper post section |32 and receives a stud shaft |60 vertically screw-threaded therein. The lower portion of this shaft has a bearing connection in a block |6| that is mounted rigidly between the upper flanges 45 of the door unit 39 by means of screws |52 passing through the iianges and block. A lower head portion |54 on this stud shaft prevents the latter from being f displaced from the block.

A lower portion of the door unit 30 is provided with a block rigidly mounted between the lower anges 49 thereof by means ofV screws |61 passing through the block yand anges to receive rigidly a vertical stud shaft |10 which can be more firmly .anchored by means of a set-screw |1| also passing through one of the flanges 49.

, The lower end of the shaft |10 extends downwardly into a horizontal casing |12 which contains conventional spring controlled hinging mechanism. Gusset plate structure |14 forms a connection between the casing and post section |32 and is rigidly secured thereto by means of screws |15. The shafts |60 and |10 are vertical and axially aligned and the door unit 39y is swingable thereabout while` the post sections |3||32 remain stationary. In order to maintain these n l T. l post sccsons in ri idly assembled relation whenv .Y place by means of Screws M The Outer edges the door structine is in its extended position, bolts |15` (Fig. 4) are mounted therein to secure them rigidly together, while also maintaining the casing 422 in parallel .alignment with the lower channel guide 25 immediately above the latter, f

Bodily swingable posts and |8| are disposed between the trollcys-52 and 53 and between the

trolleys

53 and 54 respectively. Since the posts |80 and |8| are the same in structure and con.V nections to the pairs of door units 35-36 and 31-38, respectively, the same description of their mountings sufces for both. Upper and lower bars |il2'bolted., as indicated at |84, transverselyy upon upper and lower portions of each of the posts I8@ and |8| receive pairs of upper and lower lstud shafts and |85 that constitute hinges for ti'ie edge portions of the adjacent door units S51-Stand the adjacent door units 31-30. Upper and lower pairs of blocks and |8| are mounted rigidly between upper and lower anges 45 and 49, respectively, by means of screws |02 tov form bearing members for receiving the. stud shafts |85 and |85- in .the articulated connections between the door units and posts.

It willbe observed that the vposts |00 and |8| are adapted to swing outwardly when the'door units are folded and that the "vertical hinging axes are adjacent their marginal portions. That is, substantially the entire body of each door unit is swingable away from the vertical plane of the track 50.

4In maintaining the door units in extended pov sition as shown in Figures l and 3 the units of each door structure are held in aligned relation along their upper portions by means of a rail |94 (Fig. 8) which is hinged, as indicated at |95,

to the overhead track structure and by means of bolts |06 which extend Vthrough these rails and are screwethreaded into openings |93 (Fig. 11) in the swingable posts |80 and ISI. A resilient tube 20.0 of rubber, or the like, is mounted,V as indicated at 20|, upon a ange 202 of the rail and is pressed against the upper marginal portions of the doorY units in response to the fastening of the bolts |96.V After the door units have been folded the rail |94 can be swung upwardly until a spring 204 mounted thereon snaps over the edge of one'of the track anges 50. This spring'issecured` as indicated at 205, upon the outer portion of the rail and is sufficiently strong to hold the rail releasably in the position indicated.

- Likewise, when the door units are extended, bolts 206 canbe'secured through the flange or thicker portion 3| of the hinged cover rail 20 and threaded into the lower portions of the posts i811 and |8| to vanchor the lower portions of the 4door structure to the deck.' In order to fold the door units, the bolts |96 and y206 are removed and the rails 29 and |04 are swung to one side. After theV door units'ha've been folded the rail 28 can be closed' o-ver the channel guide 25Y substantially ilush with the surface of the deck as be secured in its flush relation to the deck surface by means of suitable demountable fasteners 201, such as screws, which can be applied as shown in Fig. 9.

InV order to provide a sealing connection between `the lvertical edges of the door units and the several upright posts and supports (Fig. 4), channel members 2li) of plastic:y rubber, or the like, are mounted in grooves 2|2 formed in. these members and `the channel membersA are held in of the channel members iit closely against the edges of the door units in sealing relation. It will he observed that the edges of the door units are `round-ed kso as to have vertical edges all points o f which are equidistant from the vertical axes of the adjacent door hinges. Thus the yieldable channel 242 members fit uniformly against the edges of the door units. y

In connection with the folding of the door units, inciuding the hinging movement of the central or entrance unit 319y about the piano hinge 34, these units can be folded and moved to the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 2. Each deck house 34 includes a compartment 2|5 into which the tracks and channel guides extend. A door 2i 6 of the compartment has a vertical hinge 2| 9 supported upon the ship superstructure and can be swungt to theY position indicated in broken lines.

An upper auxiliary track section 220. forms in' eiiect a continuation of the primary overhead track 50, and a lower channel guide section 22| is likewise a continuation of the channel guide 25. rI'he guide section 22| (Fig. 13') is rigidly mounted upon a channel .arm 223 by welding,

or thelike; as indicated at 224. Both of these sections 22S and 22| are rigidly secured to an upright support 225 by means of upper and

lower gusset plates

226 and 221.

As shown in Fig. 14, the upper end of the post 225 has a plug 235 welded therein. as indicated at 23|, and has an upright integral shaft section 232 upon which race rings 234 are mounted to receive roller bearings 235. The inner portion of the race ring structure is held in place by means of a nut 236 on an upper shouldered end portion of the shaft section.

A sleeve 245 surrounds the bearing elements, the outer portion of which is firmly secured thereon by means of a cap 24| threaded into the sleeve and anchoring the outer race ring against a, shoulder 245 of the sleeve. Horizontal flanges 246 on the sleeve receive vertical bolts 241 which are adjustably mounted by means of pairs of

nuts

249 and 25|! secured upon structural members 25| carried |by the ship superstructure and on the flanges 246, respectively. It will be observed that the race-way 252 of the bearing structure is curved so as to provide for slight angular movement of support 225 while the bearings carry the load of the support in thrust relation.

The lower portion of the support 225 has a plug 26!! rigidly mounted therein by means of welding, as indicated at 26|. This plug has an axial recess 262 for receiving a roller bearing structure 254 that is vertically and axially aligned with the upper bearings 234-235. A vertical shaft section 265 is rigidly mounted in a bracket 251 that is bolted as indicated at 268 to the ship deck. The bearing structure 254 is mounted upon this shaft section in such manner that the support 225 is held in a substantially vertical position and is prevented from moving laterally; such support is suspended from the upper bearings 234-235. I

After each door structure has been folded and moved to a position adjacent its deck-house the door 216 is opened and the folded group of units is rolled on the trolleys from-the main track to the track section 220 aligned therewith. The rollers at the lower portion of the door units pass to the channel guide section 22|, which is likewise aligned with the channel guide 25. This action results in a complete transfer of the door structures to the support 225 which is then swung about a vertical axis in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2) to a position inside the compartment 2 5. Then the door 216 can be closed until the folding door structure is again to be extended and placed in operative position between the deck houses in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In performing this operation the support 225 is swung in a clockwise direction until the track section 220 and guide section 22| are aligned with the track 5B and guide channel 25, respectively. Ihe door units can then be extended and fastened in place in the manner indicated above and as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Although only one form of the invention has lbeen shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited. but that various changes can be made therein within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A folding door structure comprising a plurality of upright doors, track means having connections with the doors for guiding them horizontally while maintaining said doors in an upright position, hinges connecting adjacent doors and carrying them for folding movements on vertical axes, one of said doors having an additional pivotal support movable with the door structure along the track means and supporting said door for opening and closing action independently of said hinges.

2. In a folding door structure, a series of door units having means connecting adjacent units in articulated foldable relation on substantially vertical axes, each unit including a glass panel, track means for guiding the units in movements from a position of extended aligned relation to a position of folded relation, a track section alignable with said track means for receiving the series of units thereon, an upright support carrying said track section pivotally on a vertical axis forI swinging the track section with the folded units thereon away from its aligned relation with said track means.

3. In a door structure, a door supporting framework, master track means, said framework including upright supporting means carried by said track means for travel thereon, auxiliary track means alignable in juxtaposition with the master track means for receiving the door supporting framework from the master track means, supporting means carrying the auxiliary track means on a vertical axis toswing said auxiliary track means with the framework thereon to and from a position of alignment with said master track means.

4. In a door structure, a door supporting framework, master track means, said framework including upright supporting means carried by said track means for travel thereon, a door hinged upon the supporting means, means for releasably anchoring the door supporting framework on said track means, a compartment disposed adjacent said track means and receiving one extremity thereof whereby the supporting framework with the door thereon is movable as a unit upon the track means into the compartment.

5. In a door structure, a door supporting framework including upright supporting means, a door hinged upon the supporting means on a vertical axis, a compartment for confining the door supporting framework therein, a master track means extending to the compartment, means for riding the framework on said master track means to the compartment, auxiliary track means in said compartment alignable in juxtaposition with the master track means to receive said framework with the door thereon, and means for supporting said auxiliary track means on a vertical axis for swinging the door supporting framework away from the master track means into the compartment.

6. In a door structure for traversing an area of floor, a door supporting framework, primary overhead track means, said framework including upright supporting means carried by said track means for travel thereon, auxiliary track means alignable in juxtaposition with the primary track means for receiving the door supporting framework from the primary track means, supporting means carrying the auxiliary track means on a vertical axis to swing said auxiliary track means with the framework thereon away from a position of alignment with said primary track means, a channel guide member parallel to the primary track means for guiding the lower extremity of the framework along the floor, a cover plate movable on the channel guide to a position substantially flush with the surface of the floor when the supporting framevis on the auxiliary track means and having means thereon engageable with said framework to anchor the latter in a predetermined position.

7. In a folding door structure, a series of door units, upright supporting means disposed between adjacent door units and carrying the latter pivotally on vertical axes, said upright means including sealing members engaging the edges of the door units in yieldable relation when the door units are disposed in aligned relation, track means for supporting the door units in movements from a position of extended relation to a position of folded relation, said track vmeans extending ybeyond the normal operative position of the folding door structure and the latter being movable as a folded assembly upon said extension beyond its normal operative position.

8. In a folding door structure, a series of doors having means connecting adjacent doors in articulated relation on substantially Vertical axes, track means for supporting the doors in movements from a position of extended relation to a position of folded relation, said track means having an extension beyond lthe normal operative position of the folding door structure and the latter being movable as a folded assembly upon said extension beyond its normal operativeposition, a cover rail hinged lengthwise along one side of the track means and swingable to and from a ulated relation on substantially vertical axes,

said extension beyond its normal operative position, a coverrail hinged lengthwise along the side of the track means and swingable into covering relation thereto after the doors have been folded, and means for releasably holding the cover rail in covering relation to said ltrack means, said cover rail also being swingable to one side of the track means, and means demountably engageable with the cover rail and with .the series of doors to hold the latter rigidly in extended relation.

11. In a folding door structure, a series of doors having means connecting adjacent doors in articulated relation on substantially vertical axes, upper and lower track means for guiding upper yand lower extremities of the doors in movements from a position of extended relation to a position position of covering relation thereto after the doors have been folded, yieldable sealing means disposed longitudinally between the cover rail and the adjacent door structure, and anchoring means engageable with the cover rail and door struc- .ture for holding the doors rigidly in extended relation and for clamping the sealing means between .the rail and door structure.

9. In a folding door structure, a seriesk of doors having means connecting adjacent doors in articulated relation on substantially vertical axes, track means forV supporting the doors in movements from a position of extended relation to a position of folded relation, said track means having an extension beyond the normal operative position of the folding door structure and the latter being movable as a folded assembly upon said extension beyond its normal operative position, a cover rail hinged lengthwise along one side of the track means and swingable into covering relation thereto after the doors have been folded, and means for releasably holding the cover rail in covering relation to said track means.

10. In a folding door structure, a series of doors having means connecting adjacent doors in articof folded relation, said track means having extensions beyond the normal operative position of the folding door structure and the latter being movable as a folded assembly upon said extensions beyond its normal operative position, cover rails hinged lengthwise along one side of the upper and lower track means and swingable into covering relation thereto after the doors have been folded, and means for releasably holding at least one of the cover rails in covering relation to its track means.

v12. In a folding door structure, a series of doors having means connecting adjacent doors in articulated relation on substantially vertical axes,`

upper and lower track means for guiding and supporting the doors in movements from a position of extended relation to a position of foldedV relation, said track means having an extension -beyond the normal operative position of the folding door structure and the latter being movable as a folded assembly upon said extension beyond its normal operative position, a cover rail hinged lengthwise along one side of the upper track means and swingable into .covering relation thereto after the doors have been folded, and

means for releasablyA holding .the cover rail in covering relation upon said track means, said lcover rail being swingable to one side of the track means, and means demountably engageable with the cover rail and the upper portions of doors to `hold the latter rigidly in extended relation.

. ROBERT A. MILLER.

CARROLL HOWARD.