US2953809A - Door aligning device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 27, 1960 P. H. NELSON 2,953,809

DOOR ALIGNING DEVICE Filed April 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR PA UL H. NE L SON BY i TTORNEY5 Sept. 27, 1960 P. H. NELSON DOORALIGNING osvm 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1958 FIG.6

INVENTOR PA UL H NELSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent DOOR ALIGNING DEVICE I Paul H. Nelson, Plainville, Conn, assignor to The Stanley Works, New Britain, 'Conn., a corporation of Connecticut 1 Filed Apr. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 728,014

'4 Claims. (Cl. 16-1) This invention relates to an aligning device particularly adapted for use on folding doors of the type commonly used on closet openings, passageways, or the like and having hinges guided by a track extending along a header and a free bottom edge which may move out of alignment with the door frame as panel warpage develops.

Major objects are to provide improved door panel aligning hardware adapted forcibly to align a warped panel as his swung toward a door jamb; to prevent panel vibration and attendant rattle frequently caused by breezes; which is neat in appearance, easy to install, low in manufacturing cost, light in weight, and dependable in operation.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top view of a two panel folding door in closed position between door jambs which are shown in section, with one of the panels and an adjacent, jamb provided with a warp correcting device incorporating the invention.

Fig. 2 shows in perspective view the door of Fig. l i

swung partially open. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the details of the panel aligning device of Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary views in horizontal section of the free lower end of the outer panel and adjacent jamb of Figs. 1 and 2 showing the panel aligning device in the various positions assumed during door closure.

As shown in Fig. 2, a two panel folding door is mounted in a doorway 10, framed by header 11 and jambs 11a and 11b. Panel 12 has one edge pivotally mounted adjacent jamb 11b in known manner by upper and lower fixtures 13 and 13a respectively. Panel 14 has an edge connected to the outer edge of panel 12 by spaced hinges 19, the pins 20 of which are positioned laterally of the panel surfaces as shown in Fig. l. The top of panel 14 is provided, near its unhinged edge, with a guide bearing 21, slidable within a channel 22 in a track fixture 23 secured to header 11 to guide panel 14 toward jambs 11a. With panels 12 and 14 swung into alignment, bearing 21 engages and compresses a resilient stop 24, held by bracket 25, and by reason of the laterally positioned hinge pins 20, the resulting compressive forces urge the panels toward those pins to place the panels under a beyond center compression lock, which may be broken by forcing one of the panels in a direction to move the hinge pins beyond center? in the opposite direction, panel 12 being provided with a recessed knob 54 to thus close and open the door.

The top of panel 14, being track guided, will remain of the bottom portions thereof in respect to an adjacentjamb to give an unsightly appearance to the door when closed- 'The invention assures proper alignment of the free bottom edge of a warped track guidedpanel with the top thereof, assuming warpage within limits normally encountered. 1 Fig. 2 shows the lower free edge of panel 14 provided with an aligning device 30 for co-operative engagement with a bracket 32, fixed to extend transversely of the inner face of jamb 11a. As best shown in Fig. 3, device 30 comprises a plate 33, apertured at 34 for screw attachment to the free edge of panel 14 and provided 'with knuckles 37, 37a positioning a pintle 35 laterally of panel 14 for the pivotal support of a pressure arm 36. The outer end of arm 36 defines knuckles 39, 39a carrying pintle 40 to rotationally support a guide roller 43. Helical spring 45 encircles pintle 35 in channel 44 between knuckles 37, 37a with opposite end portions 47 and 48 anchored in channels not shown, but formed behind beads 50 and 51 on arm 36 and plate 33, respectively, to urge arm 36 outwardly of the end of panel 14 and toward bracket 32 to the position of right angularity with plate 33 shown dotted in Fig. 3. Portions of pressure arm36 engage plate 33 when the arm and plate are at right angularity as shown in Fig. 4 to prevent further pivoting of arm 36.

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 best illustrate the manner in which the lower free end of a. warped panel 14 is properly aligned with jamb 11a. Bracket 32, suitably apertured to be fixed transversely of and along the inner face. of jamb 11a by screws as shown-in Fig. 4, includes a base portion 58 provided at one end with an arm 57 to serve as a stop for guide roller 43, and at the opposite end with an arm 61 for the support of a roller 60 to serve as a panel bumper. "Fig. 4 illustrates a possible position ofroller 43 as a warped panel 14 swings toward jamb 11a, roller 43 approaching bracket 32 at a positioncloser to stop 57 than it would wth the panel unwarped. Roller 43 contacts bracket base 58 on furtherpanel approach, with resulting counter-clockwise pivoting of pressure arm 36 as roller 43 moves into engagement with stop 57, Fig. 5, from which position the panel is toggled, during subsequent panel movement toward jamb 11a, to be forced against roller 60 upon full alignment of the panels, as best shown in Fig. l, in which position the panels are held in compressive lock as above described, the counterurge of spring 45 being ineffective to break that lock. Upon retraction of panel 14 from jamb 11a as the door is opened, arm 36, hence roller 43 swings back, under urge of spring 45, from the Fig. 6 to the Fig. 4 position. It is evident that plate 33 may be positioned in respect to the edge of panel 14 properly to position roller 43 for correction of the amount of panel warpage involved.

at the time of installation. 'Plate 33 preferably is mounted to position roller 43 to approach stop 57 in spaced relation thereto to allow for further panel Warpage, which will be corrected as long as roller 43 is resaid device comprising a pivotally mounted pressure arm I v for attachment only to the leading edge of the panel,

whereby said am is freely movable about a line generally parallel to said leading edge, spring means biasing said arm forwardly of said leading edge, an elongate bracket adapted for mounting transversely of the door jamb inner face toward which said panel moves, said bracket including a stop positioned on one side of the path of said panel to be engaged by the end of the arm and a bumper positioned on the other side of the panel, the spacing between said roller and said other side. of said panel being substantially equal to the spacing between said stop and said bumper when in door closed position whereby said bumper is engageable by said panel after the end of said arm is pivoted by forward movement of the panel to force the panel transversely of the jamb after engagement of said arm with said stop.

2. A warp correcting mechanism for use with a folding door panel, said mechanism comprising a pivotably mounted arm for attachment only to the leading edge of the panel for pivotal movement aobut a line parallel thereto, a roller mounted on the outer end of said arm, means biasing said arm forwardly of said leading edge, an elongate bracket adapted for mounting to the inner face of a door jamb toward which said panel moves, said bracket including a stop portion projecting outwardly of the jamb and a bumper spaced therefrom, said stop portion and bumper being disposed transversely of said jamb with the stop port-ion positioned on one side of the path of said panel to be engaged by said roller, said bumper being positioned on the other side of said panel for engagement therewith as said arm is pivoted by the forward movement of said panel following roller engagement with said stop to force the panel transversely of said jamb, the spacing between said roller and said other side of said panel being substantially equal to the spacing between said stop and said bumper when in door closed position.

3. Means for aligning the free bottom portion of the outer panel of a pair of interhinged doors, the top portion of which is track-guided for movement to and from a door jamb, said means comprising a pressure arm mounted only on the bottom portion of said outer panel to pivot from a position extending laterally of the panel to a position extending forwardly thereof, means biasing said arm toward the forward position, a U-shaped bracket mounted transversely of the jamb on the inner jamb face in horizontal alignment with the pressure arm to provide a stop for the outer end of said arm and a bumper for the opposite wall of the panel, the spacing between the outer end of said arm and the opposite wall of the panel being substantially equal to the spacing between said stop and said bumper when in door closed position said stop being positioned outwardly of the forward end of said pressure arm as the panel is moved towards the jamb, whereby movement of said outer panel towards alignment with the inner panel results in engagement between said pressure arm and stop before complete alignment of said panels with further movement of said outer panel into a position of complete alignment resulting in the pivoting of said arm in respect to said stop to force the panels away from the stop and towards the bumper.

4. In a plural panel door of the folding type having a door jamb associated therewith, a door aligning device comprising a pressure arm, means for pivotally supporting said pressure arm solely on the leading edge of said door for movement about an axis parallel to said leading edge from, a first position extending forwardly of the leading edge of said door to a second position pivotally displaced from said first position, a resilient roller supported 0n the free end of said pressure arm, said roller being rotatable about an axis parallel to that axis about which the pressure arm is pivotably supported, a spring urging said pressure arm into said first position, a bracket having a stop abutment at one end thereof extending towards the door, and means for mounting said bracket transversely of the door jamb inner face for engagement by said roller during closing movement of the door said pressure arm being dimensioned to align the leading edge of said door with said jamb when said roller engages said stop abutment in door closed position whereby said pressure arm pivots against the force of said spring and said roller engages said stop abutment in closed door position to align the door with the door jamb.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 442,728 Wagner et a1. Dec. 16, 1890 1,318,433 Berardinelli Oct. 14, 1919 1,375,689 Gallagher Apr. 26, 1921 1,807,113 Winnans May 26, 1931 2,046,612 Devereaux July 7, 1936 2,226,037 Westcamp Dec. 24, 1940 2,712,150 Hodges July 5, 19

FOREIGN PATENTS 78,176 Norway Feb. 26, 1951

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