US2945255A - Adjustable hold-open guide rail for automatic door closer - Google Patents

Description

July 19, 1960 D. H. ELLIS ADJUSTABLE HOLD-OPEN GUIDE RAIL FOR AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSER Filed Dec. 22. 1958 INVE INTOR: DAVID H. ELLISv a v m. 1M MN MN mol 8 Q .m t mm x N O u. 5 AM 8 NQE fier ATT YS July 19, 1960 D. H. ELLIS 7 2,945,255

ADJUSTABLE HOLD-OPEN GUIDE RAIL FOR AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSER Filed Dec. 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'wrx fww 'David "H. Ellis, West Chicago, Ill., assignor,

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Patented July 19;, 1960 ADJUSTABLE HOLD-OPEN GUIDE RAIL FOR AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSER by mesne assignments, to The Oscar C. Rixson Co., Franklin This invention relates to a hold open and guide rail assembly which may be either mortised or sun-face mounted in or on a door frame headjarnb and which is adapted to provide a guide for the operating arm of a door check and closer mechanism which arm is adapted to move in response to opening and closing movements of a door. More particularly, this invention relates to a guide rail assembly of the aforesaid type which utilizes a resilient side surface of the head jamb, or to be mounted within or on the door itself, depending upon the mounting of the closer mechanism. Due to' the manner of operation of the 'single'operating'arm type of closer particularly, the operating arm when in the retracted position, must be able to attain an initial position approximately parallel to the surface of the door if full efficiency is to be realized. However, if the closer mechanism is surface mounted, or mor- 'tised it is evident that the guide rail assembly must also be surface mounted or mortised accordingly if such a parallel relationship is to be achieved. This parallel relationship between the door surface and the operating arm in the closed position, enables the closer mechanism to utilize the maximum leverage which can be jaiforded by the operating arm, prevents prolonged strain on springoperated energy storing devices, and provides a maximum latitude of door movement with a minimum unidirectional movement of the operating arm and internal mechanism of the check and closer device.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved guide rail assembly which is adapted to be mortised in, or attached to the outside portion of a door frame head jamb, or a door in order to achieve efficie'nt cooperation with a door check and closcr mechanism 4 which is similarly mounted.

cycle, tends to make such stress relatively constant during all portions of the cycle and evenly distributed over the jamb, hinges and all the respective parts of the door, jamb and closure mechanism. Therefore, the efliciency of the single arm type of closer is to a considerable extent aifected by the guide rail device which is-utilized to cornpel horizontal movement of the extremityof the operating arm in response to'opening and closing movements of the door. J V I Therefore, it is a further object of this invention to provide 'an improved guide rail assembly which is adapted to accommodate the operating arm of asingle operating arm type of check and closer mechanism, to achieve certain improved operation and to effectively cooperate therewith to obtain a maximum efliciency of closer operation and to reduce and distribute the stresses evenly over the iamb, hinges and closer mechanism.

To effect this greater efficiency the instant invention utilizes a resilient bearing surface to guide and provide a bearing surface for a spool shaped guide roller rotatably attached to the outer end of the operating arm, to absorb certain variations in stress response to door opening and closing and which has the additional advantages of providing relatively silent 'yet certain operation of the arm within the guide 'rail Without sacrifice of operating efii ciency.

Therefore, it is a further object of this invention to provide a guide rail assembly including a resilient bearing surface to guide and provide a bearing surface for a spool-shaped guide roller rotatably attached to the outer end of an operatingarm and to effectively cooperate with the closer mechanism to absorb certain stresses and to "provide relatively silent operation without sacrifice of efficiency. v v

While guide rail assemblies are generally concerned only with-providing a guiding means for the operating arm of a closer mechanism it is also highly desirable that such an assembly include means for holding the door open 'in a wirejrange of predetermined positions. However, since the closing means usually acts in opposition to the holding means, it is desirable to present a combination capable of accomplishing both purposes without compromising the efficiency ofjeither. I

Therefore, it is a further object of this invention to provide a guide 'rail assembly adapted to provide guiding means for a door closer operating arm which also includes hold open means presenting a'minimum of interference to the normal'cfunctioning of the guiding means, yet providing a wide range of hold open position adjustments.

Due principally to the 'size and form of guide rail a'ssemblies required by mounting conditions, it is difficult to provide a hold open means which is easily adjusted to'a full range of positions when mortised and also when surface mounted, it' being significantly easier to provide adjustment for guide means which are adapted to be only surface mounted. Of course, an effective hold open device must necessarily be "available for easy, convenient adjustment when either surface mounted or mortised if the full range of possible adjustments of hold open positions are to be utilized and the guide means is to have suificien't adaptability to be used with closer mechanisms susceptible to diverse mounting techniques.

Therefore, it is a further object of this invention to provide a guide rail of the aforesaid type including a hol-dopen-means which is available for easy, convenient, full range adjustment Whether mortised or surface mounted.

It is also an object of this invention to'provide an adjustable hold open and guide rail assembly "including a resilient bearing surface to distribute stress, to provide silent operation, and to provide means for retaining said door secu'rely in a wide range of predetermined held open positions.

Further objects and advantages of thisinvention will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawings which illustrate a specific embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: a

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of an embodimento'f the improved adjustable hold open and guide rail assembly mortised into ahead jamb, V

Fig. 2 is a view taken substantially on the plane of line 2 2 of Figure 1. l

on the upper portion of a door.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown 7 j in Figure 1 illustrating the manner of assembly.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the guide rail assembly.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a surface mounted embodiment of the adjustable hold open and guide rail assembly showing the stop member guide rod sprung outwardly in order to adjust the position of the holdopen stop member.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 1 showing the relationship of the guide rail, the guide red, the stop member and the adjustment aperture.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 7-7 in Figure 1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line -88 in Figure 7, and

Fig. 9 is a detail, with parts broken away, showing the form of the guide rod member.

The function of the guide rail assembly is primarily to convert the rotational movement of the outer extremity of the operating arm to longitudinal movement with respect to the head jamb during the opening and closing movements of the door; and the subject invention is particularly suitable for use with fully concealed, single arm, door checks and closers of the type which is the subject of my copending application Serial Number 781,565, filed December 19, 1958, wherein the present invention is also disclosed.

In the form shown in the drawings the subject invention includes a spool shaped guide roller 1 having a decreased diameter through the body portion and a greater diameter at the ends, the end flanges 3 being bevelled inwardly toward the roller body for a purpose to be described. Guide roller 1 is rotatably attached to the outer end of an operating arm 5 which is drivably connected for rotation by a door check and closer mechanism, not shown, mortised in or surface mounted The adjustable hold open and guide rail assembly is comprised generally of an elongated rectangular housing frame or box 7, a stop member guide rod 9, a resilient bearing surface 11, and a stop member 13.

Housing frame 7 is comprised of a substantially U- shaped channel having two end portions 15 secured thereto. The U-shaped channel provides two elongated side portions 17 and 19 which extend downwardly in relation to the base portion of the channel when the housing frame 7 is mortised or attached to the head jamb. In the form shown, the housing frame side 17 is provided with the resilient bearing surface 11, which is in the form of a guide bar secured longitudinally thereon by any suitable means and which may be formed of rubber or synthetic rubber or other suitable resilient material.

As shown in Fig. 7, this guide bar having the resilient bearing surface 11 is of rectangular cross section and is adapted to project inwardly sufliciently to accommodate the roller body 1 and to permit the end flanges 3 to extend over either edge, yet preventing the flange portions from contacting the surface of the housing wall 17. The resilient bearing surface 11 is shown as extending substantially the full length of the housing frame 7. Housing frame side wall 19 is formed with a plurality of stop apertures 23 located in opposing relationship to the resilient bearing surface 11 and spaced longitudinally along said side wall 19.

The two end portions 15 of the housing are each secured 'to the ends of the side portions 17 and 19 and to the base of the U-shaped channel. The end portions 15, as shown, are formed to provide a rod mounting aperture 25 at one end of the housing, and a larger securing aperture 27 at the opposite end of the housing to which access may be had through a cut out portion 29 leading to the open side of the housing. The end walls 15 are oppositely disposed at either end of the U-shaped channel and the apertures 25 and '27 are aligned so that a line drawn between the centers of the apertures will be parallel to the side walls '17 and 19 of the U-shaped channel/ A guide rod 9 is formed in an elongated substantially cylindrical shape having a reduced diameter portion 33 and 35 at either end. This guide rod is preferably made of a metal which is resiliently flexible and with a length to diameter ratio sufficient to permit its being flexed in the manner hereafter described without its taking a permanent set. A cap portion 37 is provided with an outer cylindrical flange 39, and a cylindrical body or shank portion 41, extending axially inward from said flange portion 39, is provided to mount a lever arm 43 secured perpendicularly to the shank portion 41 and spaced from flange 39 sufiiciently to admit end wall 15 therebetween. The reduced portion 35 of the rod, between the shank 41 and the main body of the rod, is of a size to enter the cutout opening 29.

A stop member 13, preferably made out of metal or other rigid material, is formed with a bore 45 extending longitudinally therethrough for slidably receiving guide rod 9. The rear surface of the stop member 13 is substantially flat, interrupted only by a centrally disposed cylindrically shaped stud member 47 which is adapted to be received snugly within any one of the securing apertures 23. Stud member 47 is of suflicient length so that when guide bar 9, with the stop 13 threaded thereon, is secured to end walls 15, stud portion 47 is adapted to extend into apertures 23. The outer face of the stop member 13 is formed with a central concave shaped recess portion or saddle 49 (see Fig. 5) formed'to receive a portion of the body of roller 1. Adjacent the forwardmost point of front face projection, the stop member 13 is inclined rearwardly and oppositely on either side to form tapered surfaces 51 which extend from said forward portion rearwardly toward the guide rod 9.

In attaching the guide rail assembly to the head. jamb of a door, or to a door it is to be noted that it may be either surface mounted or mortised, may be used in connection with a push or a pull door opening movement, or in connection with a right or left hand door opening swing. In any case suitable mounting means may be provided. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the housing 7 is provided with lugs 53 by which it may be secured by screws.- On the other hand, if it is desired to surface mountthe assembly, a detachably connected contoured surface securing means 55 may be used to mount the guide rail assembly to a surface as shown in Fig. 5. The manner of. securing the assembly in place is, however, only incidental to the present invention and it will be understood that any suitable means may be employed. In the form shown the securing means 55 is a quarterround block of metalof substantially the same length as the depth of the housing 7, and one of these blocks is suitably secured to each end 15 of the housing 7 with one of its axially extending faces disposed in the plane of the outer surface of the side portion 19 of the frame. These blocks are then secured to the mounting surface by means of suitable screws, as indicated in Fig. 5, to hold the frame 7 in place.

In mounting thesubject guide railassembly it is to benoted that since the resilient bearing surface 11 is adapted to receive the principal portion of the working force, this surface should always be mounted on the side of the assembly nearest the door as the door swings when closing.

When it is desired to connect the adjustable hold open and guide rail assembly to the operating arm 5 of the door closer, after the guide rail and closer have been installed, and with the guide rod 9 removed, the door is opened to about 45 degrees and the arm 5 is swung-toward the jamb to enter the body of, guide roller 1 into the open face of the guide rail housing where the roller is placed on resilient bearing surface 11 with the end flanges 3 extending over the edges of the bearing surface to guide the roller in its movement along the strip, the bevelled flange portions assuring that the flange will ;not cut or gouge the bearing member to damage the edges or running surfaces thereof. Stop member 13 is then threaded onto guide rod 9 by way of the stop member aperture 45, and the end portion 33 of the guide rod 9 is placed between the bevelled end flanges 3 of the guide roller 1 and into the end wall aperture 25. Stop member 13 is then slid along guide rod 9 until the attachment stud 47 is located adjacent the appropriate aperture '23 for effecting a predetermined hold open position. Stud 47 is then aligned within the selected opening 23 and the opposite or flanged end of guide rod 9, manipulated by the lever arm 43, is moved toward the edge of the opposite end wall 15 where the reduced diameter portion 35 is inserted laterally through cut out portion 29 until guide rod 9 is positioned within aperture 27 so that shank portion 41 may be moved axially inward therethrough. Guide rod 9 is then moved to the right (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) until flange surface 39 abuts the adjacent end wall I5. Then, lever arm 43 is rotated past detent 57 and into the housing 7 and guide rod 9 is locked and held securely within the housing frame.

When the door is moved in the opening direction, operating arm 5 will be moved longitudinally of the guide rail causing guide roller 1 to roll along resilient bearing strip 11. If the door is opened past the position corresponding to the position of the stop member 13 the roller 1 will be forced over and past the stop member by the normal force applied to the door to open it. Then when the door is released, the closure mechanism will cause the roller body to travel longitudinally of the guide rail in the reverse direction until the roller body progresses onto inclined surface 51, which forces the roller body downwardly to compress resilient surface 11, to permit the roller to seat in the saddle 4-9 and thus prevent the door from moving to the closed position, it being noted that the return movement of the door will not provide sufficient force to push the roller body beyond the saddle portion of the stop member. Thus when the opening force is discontinued, the door will return freely only to the position where the return movement of the roller body 1 is terminated by the wedging action of surface 51 and the reactive force of the resilient rail and bearing member 11 which seats the roller in the stop member saddle 49.

If it is desired to manually locate the door in this predetermined position, suflicient force must be manually exerted on the door to compress resilient member 11 sufliciently to permit the roller body 1 to move past inclined surface 51 into the saddle or recess 49, the compressed resiliency of the bearing surface retaining the roller within the concave recess. This can be done either upon initially opening the door or during its closing movement under the influence of the closer mechanism. To release the guide roller 1 from the recess 49 force manually applied to the door in the closing direction is necessary to compress resilient member 11 sufiiciently to allow the roller body to move past the forward projecting surface of the face of stop member 13, the door then beingfree to move back to the normal closed position'where the operating arm is substantially parallel to the surface of the door.

When it becomes desirable to change the position of therstop member 13 to effect a different hold-open position for the door, a screw driver or other suit-able prying tool may be inserted between housing side 19 and guide rod 9 to spring the flexible guide rod 9 outwardly a sufficient distance to permit stud portion 4-7 to be removed from aperture 23 and the stop member to be slid along guide rod 9 into position opposite a different aperture which will effect the desired'hold-open position. Stud 47 is then inserted into the appropriate aperture and the screw driver removed, stop member 13 being then restrained by the cooperation of stud-47 and the aperture '23 from further longitudinal movement along guide rod 9. 1

In the ordinary installation the stop member 13 islocated to engage the operating arm roller at a position of about degrees of door opening so that the door can swing through a normal extent of opening and closing movement without interference from the hold-open device and yet be retained at a full open position when such hold-open action is desired. The ease of resetting the hold-open stop member 13, however, permits a wide choice of hold-open positions of the door as may be desired to accommodate various situations or conditions of door use.

The main advantages of this inveniton reside in its being an improved and simplified construction adapted to be mortised in or attached to either a head jamb or a door in order to achieve eflicient cooperation with a door check and closer mechanism which is similarly mounted; in the provision of a resilient bearing surface for an operating arm guide roller, whereby to better absorb certain stresses and to provide relatively silent operation without sacrifice of efficiency; in providing a guide. rail for an operating arm which also includes an adjustable hold-open means presenting no interference to the normal function of the guide rail yet providing a wide range of hold-open position adjustment which hold-open means is available for easy, convenient, full range adjustment regardless of how the guide rail is mounted; in the utilizationof a resilient bearing surface for the operating arm roller to provide substantially silent hold-open operation and accomplish the retention of the door securely in a wide range of predetermined hold open positions; in providing improved means for achieving a true longitudinal movement of the guide roller with respect to an elongated relatively soft bearing surface; and in providing an improved guide rail capable of more convenient assembly and disassembly regardless of how the device is mounted.

Further advantages are to be found in the improved arrangement and assembly of the operating parts whereby material savings in manufacturing costs are realized; and in the simplified construction of the components of the device whereby all mechanism can be quickly and easily assembled in the unit casing with a minimum of time and labor cost and without the need for complicated fastening and adjusting procedures. Although but two specific embodiments of this invention has been herein shown and described'i-t will be understood that numerous details of theconstruction may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim: j

1. An adjustable hold-open and guide rail assembly for an operating arm'connected between a door and the head jamb of a door opening and having one end adapted to move lengthwise of the assembly in remponse to the opening and closing movements of the door, said assembly comprising an elongated housing having side and end walls and an open bottom face, both of said end walls having an aperture and one of said end walls having a cut out portion providing access to the aperture from the bottom edge of the one end wall, a 'detent on the bottom edge of said out out end wall, an elongated guide bar secured within said housing along one side wall thereof and having a resilient bearing surface, a detachable flexible guide rod extending longitudinally in said housing spaced from said bearing surface and having a reduced end portion adapted to be received endwise in one of said end wall apertures and a second reduced portion adaptedto be received laterally through said cut out portion and into the adjacent aperture, a flanged cap member on the end of said guide rod adjacent said sec ond reduced portion, a lever arm extending substantially perpendicularly from said guide rod between said second reduced portion and said cap member and spaced from said cap member to receive the said one end wall therebetween, said lever arm being engaged against the inner surface of said one end wall behind said detent to pre vent longitudinal movement of said rod, and a spool shaped guide roller rotatably attached to the said one end of the operating arm, said guide roller having a cen tral body portion received between said guide rod and said resilient bearing surface and including an inwardly bevelled flange on each end of said body portion extending over the edges of said resilient bearing surface for retaining said guide roller in rolling engagement with said resilient bearing surface when said arm is moved in response to the opening and closing of the door.

2. An adjustable hold open and guide rail assembly for an operating arm connected between a door and a head jamb associated with said door and having one end movable lengthwise of the assembly in response to the opening and closing movements of the door, said assembly comprising an elongated housing having side walls, an elongated guide member in said housing having a bearing surface extending along one side Wall, a guide roller attached to the said one end of the operating arm and having a peripheral surface positioned to roll on and along said bearing surface, one of said aforesaid surfaces being resilient, means on said guide roller for holding said guide roller in rolling engagement with said hearing surface, and stop means adjustable longitudinally of said guide member for engaging the periphery of said guide roller, the resiliency of said one surface retaining said guide roller in the position of engagement with said stop means.

3. An adjustable hold open and guide rail assembly for an operating arm connected between a door and the head jamb of a door frame and having one end movable lengthwise of the assembly in response to the opening and closing movements of the door, said assembly comprising an elongated housing having side walls, an elongated member in said housing having an inwardly facing bearing surface extending along one side wall, a guide roller attached to the said one end of the operating arm and having a peripheral surface positioned for rolling movement on said bearing surface, one of said aforesaid surfaces being resilient, and stop means adapted to be secured selectively at a plurality of positions along the length of said housing'for peripherally engaging said guide roller, said stop means having a concave roller engaging surface facing said bearing surface and projecting into the path of said guide roller, whereby engagement of said guide roller with said stop member will cause yielding of said one resilient surface to retain said guide roller at the selected position of the said stop means. t

4. An adjustable hold-open and guide rail assembly for an operating arm connected between a door and the head jamb of a door frame and having one end movable lengthwise of the assembly in response to the opening and closing movements of the door, said assembly comprising an elongated housing having opposite side Walls, an elongated guide member in said housing having a bearing surface extending along one side wall, a guide roller attached to the said one end of the operating arm and having a peripheral surface positioned to roll on said bearing surface, one of said aforesaid surfaces being resiliently compressible, a flexible guide rod extending longitudinally within and supported by said housing in spaced relation with said bearing surface, and stop means onand slidablealong said guide rod and adapted to be secured'in a selected one of a plurality of positions lengthwise 'of said housing for peripherally engaging said guide roller,"said stop means having a roller engaging surface facing said bearing surface and projecting into the path of said guide roller to force said guide roller against said bearingsurface and compress said one resilient suIfaGe and thereby retain said guide roller at the selected position of the stop means.

5. An adjustable hold-open and guide rail assembly for an operating arm connected between a door and the head jamb of a door frame and having one end movable lengthwise of the assembly in response to the opening and closing movements of the door, said assembly comprising an elongated housing having opposite side walls, an elongated bearing member of compressible resilient material secured within said housing along one side wall, a guide roller attached to the said one end of the operating arm and extending into said housing for rolling movement on and along said bearing member, and stop means adjustable lengthwise of said housing and having a saddle portion formed to peripherally engage said roller, said stop means being adapted to force said roller against said resilient bearing member to seat and retain said roller in said saddle portion.

6. An adjustable hold-open and guide rail assembly for an operating arm connected between a door and the head jamb of a door frame and having one end movable lengthwise of the assembly in response to the opening and closing movements of a door, said assembly comprising an elongated housing having side walls, an elongated guide rail of resilient material secured within said housing along one side wall, said housing having a plurality of apertures spaced longitudinally along another side of said housing, a flexible guide rod extending longitudinally within said housing and having its ends supported by said housing, said guide rod being spaced from said resilient guide rail, a spool shaped guide roller rotatably attached to the said one end of the operating arm and adapted to be received between said guide rod and said guide rail for longitudinal movement on said guide rail, and a stop member having a bore therethrough slidably receiving said guide rod, said stop member having a securing stud portion adapted to be inserted into one of said apertures to selectively position said stop member and to prevent longitudinal movement thereof relative to said guide rod, and said stop member having a face portion including a concave surface in opposed relation to said guide rail and adapted to receive the central portion of said guide roller as the roller moves on said rail, said face portion of the stop member being oppositely inclined on either side of said concave surface and in the direction away from said guide rail.

7. A guide rail assembly for a door operating arm connected between the door and the head jamb of a door opening, said assembly comprising an elongated housing having opposite side walls and end walls and having an open face in a plane normal to all said walls, each of said end walls having an aperture and one of said end walls having a cut out portion of less width than the adjacent aperture providing access to the said aperture from the edge of the end wall lying in the plane of said open face, an elongated guide, rail of resilient compressible material extending longitudinally within said housing along one side wall thereof, the other of said side walls having a plurality of apertures spaced longitudinally therealong, a flexible guide rod extending longitudinally in said housing between said end walls and having a diametrically reduced portion adapted to be inserted laterally through said out out portion and into the aperture in said one end Wall and an opposite end portion adapted to be received endwise in the other of said end wall apertures, 21 flange on-the end of said guide rod adjacent the said reduced portion, a lever arm extending substantially per,- pendicularly from said guide rod between said flange and the reduced portion and spaced from said flange sutficiently to receive the adjacent end wall therebetween to secure said guide rod against longitudinal movement within said housing, a spool shaped guide roller mounted on one end of the operating arm to project laterally thereifrom and having a central body portion received in said QLlSing between said guide rod and said resilient guide rail, said guide roller including an inwardly bevelled flange portion on each end of said body portion adapted to extend over the adjacent edges of said resilient guide rail, and a stop member slidably mounted on said guide rod and having a laterally projecting stud portion adapted to be secured in a selected one of said side wall apertures, said stop member having an opposite face portion formed to receive said guide roller and force the roller against said guide rail to retain said roller at the position corresponding to the selected one of said side wall apertures.

8. An adjustable hold open and guide rail assembly for a door operating arm connected between a door and the head jamb of a door opening and having a spool shaped guide roller at one end disposed for engagement with said assembly, said assembly comprising an elongated box-like housing having opposed side walls and end walls and an open face, each of said end walls having an aperture and one of said end walls having a cut out portion of less width than the adjacent aperture providing access to the said aperture from the edge of the end Wall lying in the plane of said open face, an elongated guide rail having a resilient bearing surface and extending longitudinally within said housing along one side wall thereof, the other of said side walls having a plurality of apertures formed therein and spaced longitudinally therealong, a flexible guide rod extending longitudinally in said housing between said end walls and having a diametrically reduced portion adjacent one end adapted to be inserted laterally through said cut out portion and into the aperture in said one end wall and a portion at its opposite end adapted to be received endwise in the aperture in the other end wall, a flange on the end of said guide rod adjacent said diametrically reduced portion, a lever arm extending substantially perpendicularly from said guide rod between said flange and said diametrically reduced portion and spaced from said flange to receive the adjacent end wall therebetween, said guide roller having a central body portion adapted to be received between said guide rod and the adjacent resilient bearing surface of said guide rail and including bevelled flanges on each end of said body portion adapted to extend over the adjacent edges of said resilient bearing surface, and a stop member having a bore therethrough slidably receiving said guide rod, said stop member including a securing stud portion adapted to be inserted in a selected one of said side wall apertures to position said stop member and to prevent longitudinal movement thereof relative to said guide rod, said stop member having a face portion including a central concave formation opposing said resilient bearing surface and adapted to receive the central portion of said guide roller as said roller moves along the guide rail, said face portion being oppositely inclined on either side of said concave surface and away from said bearing surface whereby said bearing surface will be compressed as said roller is moved into engagement with said concave surface.

9. A guide rail assembly for an operating arm connected between a door and a head jamb associated with said door and having one end adapted to move lengthwise of said assembly in response to the opening and closing movement of the door, said assembly comprising an elongated housing having side and end walls, an elongated guide bar of rectangular cross-section and of non-metallic resilient material secured within said housing along one side wall thereof, and a spool-shaped guide roller rotatably attached to said one end of said arm and having a body portion extending into said housing for rolling movement on said resilient guide bar and including an inwardly beveled flange on each end of said body portion extending over the edges of said guide bar to retain said roller in alignment with said guide bar while rolling thereon when the arm is moved in response to opening and closing of the door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,532,239 Fauser Apr. 7, 1925 1,921,314 Garrison Aug. 8, 1933 2,289,092 Bernhard July 7, 1942

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