US3614803A

US3614803A - Door track

Info

Publication number: US3614803A
Application number: US813824A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas E Matthews
Original assignee: American Metal Climax Inc
Current assignee: Cyprus Amax Minerals Co
Priority date: 1969-04-07
Filing date: 1969-04-07
Publication date: 1971-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-26

Abstract

A TRACK IS PROVIDED FOR A SLIDING WALL PANEL AND THE LIKE INCLUDING A BASE MEMBER SUPPORTING A RAIL AND HAVING A FLANGE DEFINING A GUIDE GROOVE WITH THE RAIL FOR RECEIVING A GUIDE EXTENSION OF THE PANEL. A HARDENED INSERT STRIP IS PROVIDED ALONE THE INNER SURFACE OF THE FLANGES FACING THE RESPECTIVE RAIL TO DEFINE A BEARING SURFACE FOR THE GUIDE PROJECTION.

Description

Oct. 26, 1971 T. E. MATTHEWS 3,614,803

DOOR TRACK Filed April '1. 1969 I INVENI'URI THOMAS E, MATTHEWS ATT'YS United States li'aten 3,614,803 DOOR TRACK Thomas E. Matthews, Niles, Mich, assignor to American Metal Climax, line, New York, N31. Filed Apr. 7, 1969, Ser. No. 813,824 lint. Cl. A4711 33/00 US. C]. 16-94 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A track is provided for a sliding wall panel and the like including a base member supporting a rail and having a flange defining a guide groove with the rail for receiving a guide extension of the panel. A hardened insert strip is provided along the inner surface of the flanges facing the respective rail to define a bearing surface for the guide projection.

The present invention relates to a track structure and more particularly, to a track structure for a sliding wall panel and the like.

Sliding wall panels or sliding doors are available commercially wherein a plurality of panels in abutting relation close an opening in a structure, and the panels are slideable on a track into a stacking or storage area adjacent the opening. One common type of track structure to guide the panels into the stacking or storage area employs a track diverter wherein a guide groove in the tract receives a guide projection or pin adjacent the door caster to move the panels in the desired direction. Difiiculty has heretofore been encountered in the sticking of the guide projections or the digging of the guide projections into the sides of the guide groove, particularly in the diverter area where the panel casters must be turned by the track.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved track structure for a sliding door which overcomes the above difiiculties.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved track structure.

Yet another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved track structure which facilitates smooth turning and movement of the panel casters.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularly in the claims annexed and forming a part of this specification.

In accordance with these and other objects, there is provided an improved track for a sliding wall panel and the like of the type having a rail for a caster mounted on a rail supported in a base member. A flange is provided spaced apart from the rail to define a guide groove for receiving a guide member of the panel or panel caster. In accordance with the present invention, a hardened insert strip is provided along the inner surface of the flange to provide a bearing surface for the guide member. The insert strip is particularly useful in the diverter area of the track.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanynig drawings wherein:

vFIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical diverter arrangement in a track structure;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of the diverter structure drawn to a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional elevational view of the track structure of FIG. 2, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 7

2, illustrating a panel caster in place;

Bfiiiflfld Patented Uct. 26, 1971 FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of an insert strip according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the track structure, taken along line 55 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a track structure having a diverter section for directing a plurality of sliding wall panels and the like from an opening area 11 into a storage area 12. To this end the diverter section 10 spreads a double track structure 10a into a pair of diverging single track structures 10b and 100.

A typical track structure and sliding door arrangement is more fully described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 3,334,375 granted Aug. 8, 1967 to S. Eugene Hubbard. However, briefly, in the embodiment herein illustrated, referring to the typical double track structure 10a illustrated in FIG. 3, a rail 15 is carried on a rail support 16 of a base member 17. The rail support 16 and base member 17 in the illustrated embodiment are formed as a unitary extrusion. The base member 17 may, if desired, be supported by adjusting screws 18 extending through ears or projections 19 to permit leveling of the track structure during assembly. The structure then is grouted or imbedded in a suitable floor base, such as concrete 20. Spaced on each side of the rail 15 are upwardly extending

flanges

22 and 23 defining

respective guide grooves

24 and 25 with the rail 15.

As more fully described in the above identified Letters Patent No. 3,334,375, a typical wall panel is provided with a pair of casters at its lower end, only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 3. Each of the casters 30 includes a wheel 31 riding on the rail 15, and a guide projection or pin 32 extending into a respective one of the guide grooves, here shown as guide groove 24. It is understood that the other caster on the same panel will have a guide pin extending into the other one 25 of the guide grooves. Thus when the sliding wall panel is moved from the opening area 11 into the storage area 12, one of the guide casters will be directed along the single track structure 1%, the other being directed along the track 100 so as to stack the doors for storage.

FIG. 5 illustrates a typical single track structure. As therein illustrated the rail 15 is supported on a rail support 16a from a base member 17a. A spaced apart upstanding flange 23a, formed as an extension of the flange 23, defines the groove 25. A second upstanding flange 23b is closely positioned to the rail 15, there being no need for a second guide groove in the single track srtucture 100.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved hardened insert strip 35 of stainless steel or other suitable material extending along each of the

flanges

22 and 23 through the diverter section. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the insert strips 35 is generally elongated, having a vertical bearing surface 36 and a .return flange 37 at the ends thereof at right angles thereto and fitted over the

end

22c, 23c of each of the

flanges

22 and 23. Each of the insert strips 35 is provided with a number of tabs 38 along the upper edge thereof and bent outwardly over the upper edge of the respective flange. Fasteners, such as self threading metal screws 40, extend through screw holes 38a in the tabs 38 to fasten the insert strips 35 to the respective flanges.

Where it is necessary to join two of the inserts 35 the adjoining return flanges and adjacent bearing surface of each strip is cut oif to the tab 38, as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 4 at 42, to provide abutting tabs as illustrated in detail B of FIG. 1.

The insert strips are particularly desirable in the diverter area where the casters must be turned and the guide pins 32 thereof therefore bear against the sides of the

guide grooves

24 and 25. Thus the insert strips 35 prevent sticking and gouging of the pins 32 into the

flanges

22 and 23 of the track. Moreover since the rail support and base member is commonly of soft extrudable material such as aluminum, the addition of the insert strips prevents tearing up and gouging of the comparatively soft flanges. The rail 15, being of bar material, and carrying the bearing load of the panel units, is generally of harder material such as steel. Advantageously the insert strips 35 may be field installed on existing trackage by opening the joint at the diverter so as to accept the return flange of the insert strip.

Although the present invention has been described by reference to only a single embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that numerous modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art, and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications and embodiments which will fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A track for a sliding wall panel and the like comprising:

a base member;

a rail support means on said base member;

a rail carried on said support means;

flange means spaced apart from said rail defining a guide groove therewith for receiving a guide member of the panel; and

a hardened insert strip along the inner surface of said flange means to provide a bearing surface for a guide member;

said strip including return flanges at right angles to the bearing surface at the ends thereof fitted over the end of a flange section.

2. A track as set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of tabsalong the upper edge of said bearing surface bent outwardly over the upper edge of said flange means, and a plurality of fasteners extending through respective ones of said tabs securing said strip to said flange means.

3. A track as set forth in claims 2 wherein said insert 4 is formed of stainless steel.

4. A diverter assembly for a sliding wall panel and the like for directing panel casters from a double groove track to each of two single groove tracks comprising:

a base member;

a rail support carried on said base member;

rail means carried on said support, said rail means including a diverter portion wherein one rail separates into two diverging rails;

a pair of continuous flanges spaced on respective sides of said one rail to define a double track having guide grooves on each side of said rail means running outwardly spaced apart of respective ones of the diverging tracks to define diverging single tracks having a single guide groove outwardly of each rail means;

a pair of hardened steel insert strips, one along the inner surface of each of said flanges facing the respective rail means to define a bearing surface for a guide member,

said strips each having a return flange at right angles to the bearing surface at the ends thereof fitted over the respective ends of the flanges at the double track of the diverter,

said strips each including a plurality of tabs along the upper edge of said bearing surface bent outwardly over the upper edge of the respective flange; and

a plurality of fasteners extending through respective ones of said tabs securing each of said strips to a flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,334,375 8/1967 Hubbard 16-97 2,848,722 8/1958 Choporis 49-425 X 2,557,850 '6/1951 Walter 308-35 2,255,949 9/1941 Thompson 312-349 2,923,571 2/1960 Adell 52-716 X 2,831,244 4/1958 Adell 49462 X FOREIGN PATENTS 955,968 1/1950 France 49-127 13,652 5/1898 Great Britain 49-127 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner P. A. ASCHENBRENNER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 16-97