US2860387A

US2860387A - Sliding doors and hardware therefor

Info

Publication number: US2860387A
Application number: US616525A
Authority: US
Inventors: Darwin B Grossman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-10-17
Filing date: 1956-10-17
Publication date: 1958-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 1975-11-18

Description

Nov. 18, 1958 D. B. GRossMAN 2,860,387

sLInING nooRs AND HARDWARE THEREFOR Filed Oct. 17, 1956 N R.Y mw m m5 Wm n -G XA 5m m W ma D Nov. 18, 1958 D. B. GRossMAN 2,850,387 I v SLIDING DOORS AND HARDWARE THEREFOR Filed Oct. 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 DMW/N5. pais/1MM ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1958l ma. `GRossMAN 2,860,387

SLIDING DOORS AND HARDWARE THEREFOR Filed oct. 17. 195e 4 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR DHPWM/ B. @Pass/1MM RNEY NOV. 18, 1958 D, B GRQSSMAN 2,860,387

SLIDING DOORS AND HARDWARE THEREF'OR Filed Oct. 17, 1956 INVENTOR DARW/A/B GPoss/wn/v ATT NEY l United tes Patent .SIEIDING DOORS AND HARDWARE THEREFOR Darwin B. Grossman, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application October 17, 1956,;Serial'No. 616,525

12 Claims. (Cl. 20-19) This Vinvention 4relates to .sliding vdoors which, when in normally closed position, have their outer surfaces ush with one another and :lie in the same vertical plane, but which are adapted, when1it is ,desiredto open one .of them, to be moved so that their meeting edges arein .oiset relation to permit `either one of them to be moved into open position'back ofthe other.

The sliding doors of this inventon may ,be used-wherever sliding doors of this general character are desired, but are `particularly 'useful in connection -with cabinets, closets, wardrobes, and like environs. t

The present invention is an improvement ,on `the subject matter of my rcopending rapplication Serial No. 474,327, led December 10, 11954, v,now yPatent No. 2,819,498, issued January y14, I1958, `and the object of the invention is to -simplify the prior constructions `and economize in the cost of this hardware andits installation.

Generally speaking, the .present invention comprises a switching.mechanismpositioned midway of the opening in `whichthe doors are installed. `A like switching member is preferably employed `at both the top and bottomofthe door and there arranged in coaxial, vertical relation. ,The switchingmechanism serves to move .the meeting .ledges .of the doors, when closed, into ush ,relationwhilesthe distant ends ofthe doors are guided ori-fixed guides which maybe -in the form of tracks or grooves lat the bottom and top of the door opening. However, stationary guides may be spaced intermediate the ends of the doors and about which said doors are pivotally moved from flush into offset relation and vice versa and thus guided for opening and closing movements.

The invention embodies numerous ,featuresof novelty all tending to produce highly efficient constructions, which may be economically manufactured,.easily installed and are thoroughly eicient in the performance of their respective functions.

The accompanying drawings illustrate vdiifolent `practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions therein shown is to 'be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the :limits of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a cabinet equipped with sliding doors according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows the switching system of the present 'invention and constitutes in effect a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l with the doors in closed positions.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing the meeting edges of the doors in offset relation to permit of sliding of the lefthand door back of the righthand door.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental view of the lower inner vface of vone door as viewed in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view showing the several parts of the switch mechanism separated from one another, so that their individual structures may be more clearly understood.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the switch mechanism with the parts in assembled relation. The switching mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7 vis that illustrated in Figs. l-5 inclusive.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the guide switches shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the guide switch shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view vof one of the screw guides shown inFigs. 1-3 inclusive.

Fig. 1l is a front elevation of the screw guide of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modified form of construction utilizing recessed tracks or grooves in lieu of the screw guides shown in the previous figures. -InFig. l2the doors are shown in closed positions.

Fig. 13 isaview similar to Fig. l2, but shows the switching mechanism as it `appears when the doors are in offset positions with the -lefthand door ready to be opened.

Fig. `14 is a section on the Iline 114-14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a view similar -to Fig. '13 butshows a modified form of construction wherein the guide switches are channeled instead of provided with upstanding flanges as in Fig.9.

Fig. 116 is a plan view of the switching mechanism of Fig. l5 with the parts -in closed door positions.

Fig. 17 is a section on line 17-17 of Fig. 16.

Referring lrst to Figs. l-ll of ythe drawings, 1 ldesignates `a cabinet provided with a ydoor casing 2 having therein a dooropening in-which the doors'4 andS of this invention are mounted.

Positioned midway of `the width of the cabinet upon the ceiling and floor of the cabinet and in vertical coaxial relation are a pair of identical switch mechanisms. I have not attempted to -show these lmechanisms duplicated at the top and bottom of the door opening, but it will be understood that they Aare identical with one another.

:Oneof these mechanisms 6 is shownibestin Figs. Zand 7 Aand the several `elements of which .they are yformed are shown separated from one another in Fig. `6. In :this latter ligure, 7 designates a base plate. lIt is adapted to be received in a circular recess 8, shown in Fig. v4 as formed in the floor or ceiling, :as the case may be, so that plate 7 seats therein. It is provided at one side with a perforation in which is seated a spring actuated bullet catch 9, the shell of which is set into the floor, as shown in Fig. 4, with the ball or bullet 1@ thereof projecting above the upper surface of said base plate. The .central portion of the plate is perforated at 11 to receive a screw 12 (Fig. 4). The central portion of said plate is of circular form, so that its oppositeedges 13 clear the heads 14 of rivets 15. These lateral arcuate edges 13 merge into shoulders 16 which form stops for the rivet heads 14.

Seated upon and coaxial with the base plate is acircular switch plate 17 having a central perforation 18 for `the screw 12. At diametrically opposite points said switch plate is provided with perforations 19 to receive the rivets 15 and vthe under side of said switch plate is provided with circular depressions 2i), 2.1 and 22 adapted Vto cooperate 4with the projecting ball 1t) of the bullet catch 9, so as to `lock the switch plate against inadvertent rotation when placed in any one of the three positions of which it is susceptible.

superimposed 4upon the switch plate 17 is -a nest plate 23. This plate may be made integral with the plate 17, but is shown as separate and spot welded thereto at 24. lt is of the same overall diameter as the plate 17 and has a registering central opening 25. At each side of saidcentral opening are cut outs 26 and in these cut outs are adapted to nest two guide switches 27. These guide switches have base brackets perforated at 2S to fit over the rivets 15 and said rivets are headed over to secure these base brackets for pivotal movement on said rivets within the cut outs 26. Each base bracket has an upstanding tongue carrying an elongated guide 29. When these parts are assembled as shown in Figs. 7 and 4, the base plate 7 is stationary but the switch plate 17, nest plate 23 and guide switches 27 are bodily movable about the axis of the screw 12 while the two guide switches 27 are pivotal relative to this assembly and to one another.

The

doors

4 and 5 are provided in both their upper and lower edges with longitudinal slots 30, see Figs. 4 and 5. These slots may be formed directly in the top and bottom edges of the doors or by strips secured to the doors. When the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, with the doors in closed ush relation, the guides 29 project into these slots at both the top and bottom of the door to control the relative positions of the adjacent or meeting edges of the doors. The more distant portions of the doors are guided by stationary front screw guides 31 with elongated tongues and are of the character shown in Figs. l and 11. These guides are provided with threaded shanks 32 which are screwed into holes bored in the floor and ceiling. They are arranged so that the heads of said guides extend into the slots 30 in the top and bottom of the door and about midway of the width of each door and are so positioned with respect to the front face of the cabinet that they are equally spaced therefrom, so that, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the doors will be ush with one another with their outer surfaces occupying the same plane.

When it is desired to open one of said doors from their closed positions of Fig. 2, pressure may be exerted adjacent the margin of the meeting edge of the door to be opened, so as to push the door in an inward direction or optionally a knob 33 adjacent the distant edge of said door may be drawn forward.

In either case the door thus operated upon Vwill be moved on a vertical axis with concurrent rotation of the rotatable parts of the switch mechanism so that the meeting edge of the door, for example door 4, is forced inwardly with a concurrent outer movement of the corresponding edge of the door to bring said edges into the offset relation shown in Fig. 3. The door 4 may be then slid to the right in Fig. 3 to occupy the dot and dash position, rearwardly and in overlapping relation to the door 5. During said movement, the door is guided, as it passes back of the door 5, by back screw guides 31a, of the same character as the front screw guides hereinbefore described, ywhich engage with the slots 30 in the door and maintain said door 4 in substantially parallel relation to the door 5 during the opening movement and thereafter until the door 4 is closed, whereupon the operations described are reversed to return the doors to the closed positions shown in Fig. 2.

In order that the doors be guided throughout their entire opening movement, each front guide 31 should be spaced from the corresponding side wall of the door opening a distance greater than the spacing between the centrally located switching mechanism and the next adjacent back guide 31a and the other side of said switching mechanism. With this spacing, the door which is opened will be in engagement with both the corresponding guide switch tongue 29 and the next adjacent back guide 31a, before it moves out of engagement with its front guide 31.

It will of course be understood that the door 5 may be operated in the same manner as the door 4 by pressing or pulling on the door 5 as described, instead of on' the door 4.

It will be noted from Fig. 4 that the upper surface of the nest plate 23 is flush with the surface of the oor and if the doors are light, they may simply slide on the oor of the door opening without the employment of any anti-friction means. However, if desired, I may associate with each door an anti-friction wheel 34, one of which is positioned adjacent the front screw guide 31. These wheels may be used only at the bottom of the door or at both the bottom and top of the door.

During the operations described, the bulletcatch cothe preceding gures.

operates with the

depressions

20, 21 and 22 in the bottom of the switch plate 17 to facilitate location of the parts. When said parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the bullet catch engages the central recess 20. When the parts are as shown in Fig. 3, the bullet catch engages the recess 21 and when the door 5 is to be opened, the bullet catch will engage with the recess 22. Thus the bullet catch serves to immobilize the switching mechanism during the sliding of the doors, yet the engagement of such catch will readily permit the movement of the doors from ush to oiset positionand vice versa.

The modified form of construction shown in Figs. 12-14 is similar in many respects to the structure of However, in Figs. 12 and 13 the nest plate 23a is provided with a raised portion or platform 35 having therein groove cross tracks 36 and 37, so positioned that, when the doors are moved into offset relation, as shown in Fig. 2, one of these groove tracks will aline with tracks or grooves 38 formed in the oor and ceiling of the cabinet. The guide switches 29 are incorporated in this construction as before and they operate in slots 30 in the top and bottom edges of the doors. The rollers 39 project below the floor and are adapted to ride in the

track sections

36, 37 and 38, as the case may be, as clearly appears from Fig. 14. The distant portions of the doors carry rollers which operate in the grooves 38 and serve to guide those portions of the doors. The guide switches 27 move the roller 37 on the meeting edge of the selected door into alinement with the track groove of the 36 or 37 and, as soon as the door starts to move, said roller enters the selected

track groove

36 or 37 and from there into the track 38 serves to guide the door during its opening movement. The track sections 38 are branched as shown, to provide guides for the individual doors and there is suicient facial clearance between each roller 40 and the track groove 38 in the cabinet to permit pivotal movement of these rollers as the door is moved into and out of flush relation by the switching mechanism. v

The construction of Figs. 12-14 may be duplicated at both the top and bottom of the door opening or the different door guide means shown in the several figures of the drawings may be selectively used in either location.

The modified form of construction shown in Figs. 16 and 17 does not require grooves in the door edges. It utilizes groove tracks in the cabinet such as indicated at 38 in Fig. 13, with rollers on the doors to be guided by said tracks. Thus the switching members 27a of this construction are in the form of ilat discs axially supported on the rivets 15a for rotation and across the upper face of each disc is a track groove 40. As the switch plate 17 and nest plate 2311 are rotated, by pushing or pulling upon the door as hereinbefore described, one of the track grooves 40 is moved into alinement with the

corresponding track groove

36a or 37a, while the latter is alined with the track groove 38 of the cabinet. The selected door may then be moved into open position. During this movement the rollers on the door traverse the track grooves and are guided thereby.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred forms, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim Ias new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sliding door assembly comprising: a door opening, a pair of doors in said opening, a switching mechanism positioned centrally of a horizontal portion of the door opening embodying a rotary switching member having thereon relatively rotatable switch guides, engaging withthe meeting portions of the doors to permit movement of the meeting edges thereof from flush to offset relation and vice versa with rotation of said rotary switching member and concurrent rotation of both switch guides, stationary front guides positioned on said horizontal portion of the door opening laterally of the switching member to engage with and maintain the doors in the same plane when the meeting edges of said doors are in flush relation, `and stationary back guides also mounted on said horizontal portion of the door opening laterally of the rotary switching member in divergent relation to the front guides and cooperable with the corresponding switch guide to guide a selected door into open positio-n back of the other door and substantially parallel thereto after the meeting edges of said doors have been moved into offset relation.

2. A sliding door assembly as in claim l, wherein there are switching mechanisms and front and back guides at both upper and lower horizontal portions of the door opening.

3. A sliding door assembly as in claim 1, wherein the horizontal edges of the doors are provided with longitudinal slots, and the switch guides and front and back guides have tongues extending into said slots.

4. A sliding door assembly as in claim 3, comprising anti-friction rollers on the doors to facilitate lateral movement thereof.

5. A sliding door assembly as in claim 3, wherein each front guide is spaced from the corresponding side wall of the door opening a distance greater than the spacing between the switching mechanism and the next adjacent back guide and the other side of said switching mechanism.

6. A sliding door assembly as in claim 1, wherein the switching member comprises a centrally pivoted switch plate with the switch guides pivoted on the opposite sides of the axis thereof and provided with upstanding tongues for engagement with the doors.

7. A sliding door assembly as in claim 1, wherein the switching member comprises a centrally pivoted switch plate with the switch guides pivoted on the opposite sides of the axis thereof and provided with track grooves to receive rollers on the respective doors.

8. A sliding door assembly as in claim 1, wherein the front and back guides comprise tracks which diverge from one another on each of the opposite sides of the switching mechanism.

9. A sliding door assembly as in claim 8, wherein the tracks are in the form of stationary grooves in the door opening.

10. A sliding door assembly as in claim 9, wherein each door is provided with rollers operable within and guided by said grooves.

11. A sliding door assembly as in claim 10, wherein the switching mechanism is provided with switching grooves adapted to be selectively alined with the stationary grooves through rotation of the rotary switching member, and the switch guides are also provided with grooves adapted to be selectively alined with the switching grooves when the doors are moved into offset relation, the rollers on the doors being operable within all of the corresponding grooves.

12. A sliding door assembly as in claim 1, wherein the front and back guides comprise elongated tongues with threaded Shanks screwed into the horizontal portion of the doorway.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 197,813 Beard Dec. 4, 1877 1,515,091 Brower et al. Nov. 11, 1924 2,778,051 Menz Jan. 22, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 714,761 France Nov. 19, 1931