WO2016027062A1

WO2016027062A1 - Slidable door assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2016027062A1
Application number: PCT/GB2015/052295
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander SIMMONS
Original assignee: Home Decor Gb Limited
Priority date: 2014-08-19
Filing date: 2015-08-07
Publication date: 2016-02-25
Also published as: GB2529426A; GB2529426B; GB201414718D0

Abstract

A slidable door assembly (10) comprising one or more movement means (11) configured for enabling movement of a slidable door (12) along a track (15) and a housing (14) including the movement means (11). The housing (14) is configured for attachment to the slidable door (12). The assembly further comprises one or more cleaning elements (13) configured to clean the track (15) during movement of the slidable door (12).

Description

SLIDABLE DOOR ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to slidable door assemblies for enabling movement of slidable doors. The invention relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to such assemblies having improved service lives. The invention also relates to slidable doors provided with one or more of such assemblies.

Slidable doors are able to move horizontally with respect to the plane of a doorway and thereby selectively open and close the opening therein. Such doors are typically mounted on, or suspended from, one or more tracks provided along upper and/or lower horizontal edges of the doorway, the track(s) being configured to guide said movement of the door. Mounting and suspension is typically achieved through the use of one or more slidable door assemblies, each of which typically comprises one or more rollers which are able to run along said track(s). Such assemblies may be known as "trolley hangers" when used to suspend a slidable door from an upper horizontal edge of a doorway and "bottom-rolling door gears" when mounting a slidable door on a lower horizontal edge of a doorway (such as the floor).

During normal use, the tracks of a slidable door can attract hair, lint, dust, food crumbs and other debris which build-up over time. Such debris can become adhered to and, particularly in the case of hair, wrapped around the roller(s) of the assembly. This can cause assembly performance to deteriorate over time such that opening and closing the door becomes difficult. The build-up of such debris may even prevent movement of the door altogether.

To address this deterioration in performance, the assembly unit must be serviced periodically to clean or replace its components, particularly the roller(s), and thereby to restore its ability to run along the tracks effectively. Such cleaning or replacement can, however, be difficult. Access to the assembly unit, particularly the roller(s), is relatively restricted, and sharp parts of the assembly can cause injury.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the abovementioned disadvantages and provide an assembly for use with a slidable door with an improved service life. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a slidable door assembly comprising:

(i) one or more movement means configured for enabling movement of a slidable door along a track;

(ii) a housing including the movement means, said housing being configured for attachment to the slidable door; and

(iii) one or more cleaning elements;

wherein said one or more cleaning elements are configured to clean the track during movement of the slidable door.

The slidable door assembly of the present invention provides a convenient solution to the aforementioned issues in relation to service life. In particular, provision of the one or more cleaning elements means that the track along which the slidable door moves (being the same track along which the movement means can move) can be cleaned during opening and closure of the slidable door. As a result, debris build-up on the track is mitigated, which build-up might otherwise be subsequently transferred onto the components of the assembly (particularly onto the movement means). This has the effect that the slidable door assembly is required to be serviced less frequently. For convenience, the assembly may be supplied together with a slidable door. Therefore, according to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a slidable door provided with a slidable door assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention. However, it is also within the scope of this invention for a slidable door assembly to be supplied independently of a slidable door, and subsequently retro- fitted thereto.

As described above, slidable doors may be mounted on, or suspended from, a track. Such tracks are useful for guiding movement of the slidable door and thereby ensuring that the door follows a set path (corresponding to the track). For convenience, such a track may be provided together with both a slidable door and a slidable door assembly as a kit of parts for fitting to a doorway. Therefore, according to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts for a doorway, the kit comprising a slidable door assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention, a slidable door, and a track for the slidable door. Preferred features common to the slidable door assembly according to the first aspect, the slidable door according to the second aspect, and the kit according to the third aspect are described below. For the purposes of clarity for the remaining description, the invention may, in parts, be described with reference to a doorway fitted with a slidable door. Such a doorway may be considered as having a substantially planar opening which is closable by the slidable door, said opening having horizontal and vertical axes. References hereinafter to horizontal and vertical axes are, unless otherwise stated, intended to be by reference to the horizontal and vertical axes of such a doorway. Such references are intended merely to aid understanding of the present invention and should not necessarily be considered as limiting the scope of protection sought.

Debris build-up is particularly problematic for slidable doors which are mounted on a lower horizontal edge of a doorway (such as the floor), since debris build-up is more prevalent there (as compared with slidable doors which are, for example, suspended from an upper horizontal edge of a doorway frame). As a result, the slidable door assembly of the present invention finds particular utility in applications involving slidable doors which run on a track provided on a lower horizontal edge of a doorway. Nevertheless, slidable doors which are suspended from a raised ledge are also subject to debris build-up, and slidable door assemblies for use in applications involving such slidable doors are also envisaged. For the avoidance of doubt, the term "track" is intended to cover not only physical, laid tracks for guiding movement of the slidable door (akin to a railway tracks, for example) but also any general path on which the slidable door may move (which may, for example, equate simply to a line of movement to be taken along the floor).

Suitable movement means for use in the present invention include any component which would enable a door to slidably move to open and close an opening in a doorway. Such components might include, for example, rollers, such as wheels and/or roller-balls; skates; and/or caterpillar tracks. In certain applications, the slidable door assembly may comprise multiple such movement means (which may be the same as one another, or may be different). In embodiments, the assembly may, for example, comprise two or more movement means. In other applications, a single movement means might be sufficient. The said one or more cleaning elements are preferably arranged in relation to the one or more movement means so as to clean the track during movement of the slidable door. The one or more cleaning elements may be considered as performing a sweeping action during movement of a slidable door, the sweeping action collecting and/or pushing aside debris which has built-up on the track for the slidable door. Suitable cleaning elements for use in the invention include any element which is capable of performing the aforementioned function of collecting and/or pushing aside debris build- up. Suitable such elements might, for example, include brushes, pads (such as felt pads), sponges, dusters or the like. The preferred type of element used will depend on the type of debris build-up envisaged in the circumstances. In instances where two or more of said cleaning elements are provided as part of the assembly, the cleaning elements may be the same as one another, or may be different.

The one or more cleaning elements should be locatable on the assembly such that they are able to clean the track ahead of and/or behind the movement means in relation to its direction of travel. In embodiments, the assembly may be configured for attachment to a slidable door which moves along a linear track (e.g. corresponding to the horizontal axis of the plane of a doorway). In such embodiments, the one or more cleaning elements may be locatable in a co-linear arrangement with the movement means along a corresponding linear track. In this way, the one or more cleaning elements are able to effect said cleaning of the linear track to be taken by the slidable door ahead and/or behind the movement means relative to its direction of travel.

In some instances, there may be two or more of such cleaning elements, and the assembly may be configured to have one (or one set) of such cleaning elements locatable on the assembly such that they are able to clean the track ahead of the movement means and another (or another set) of such elements being locatable on the assembly such that they are able to clean behind. In this way, the cleaning elements may clean the track ahead of the movement means irrespective of whether the slidable door is being moved in a first direction to open the doorway, or in a second (reverse) direction to close the doorway. As mentioned above, the one or more cleaning elements perform the function of collecting and/or pushing aside debris build-up. In particular instances where debris build-up is to be collected, the elements themselves may be prone to becoming saturated with such debris and may need to be periodically removed and cleaned or replaced altogether. In embodiments in which the one or more cleaning elements are designed to push aside debris build-up, they may also require periodic removal and cleaning or replacement as well. To facilitate such removal, cleaning and/or replacement, the assembly may be configured for easy access to the one or more cleaning elements. To that end, the one or more cleaning elements may be connectable to the housing via a corresponding number of struts for supporting the cleaning element(s) in position. Such struts should be configured such that the cleaning element for location thereon can be removed and replaced easily. The cleaning element(s) may be fastenable in place on the assembly (e.g. on the strut(s)) using any suitable fastener, such as with adhesives (e.g. adhesive double-sided tape), hook and loop fasteners, clips, pins or the like. A variety of suitable fasteners will be well known to those of skill in the art.

The one or more cleaning elements may be configured such that they are separated from the track by a clearance. Such a configuration may be more appropriate where debris is held relatively loosely on the track. The cleaning element(s) may, in the alternative, be configured such that they contact the track to be cleaned. Such a configuration may be more appropriate where debris is more heavily adhered on the track. In instances where two or more cleaning elements is provided, one (or one set) may be in the aforementioned configuration having a clearance, while another element (or another set of elements) may be in the aforementioned contact configuration. Alternatively, all of the cleaning elements may be in either the clearance or contact configuration.

The housing of the assembly is configured for attachment to a slidable door. This may be achieved by means of an intermediate bracket connectable to the housing. The point (or points) of attachment to the slidable door define(s) a region (hereinafter referred to as the "attachment region") from which positions of other components in the assembly may be measured. The assembly may be provided with a position adjustment system which is configured to enable adjustment of the position of the movement means. It should be appreciated that this attachment region corresponds to a region on the door to which the assembly is to be attached. Therefore, when the assembly is attached to a slidable door, the position adjustment system allows adjustment of the position of the movement means relative to this region on the door. Such adjustments may be useful for facilitating installation, since, for example, the position of the movement means can be adjusted in-situ, thereby enabling their location in place (e.g. in a track) more easily.

The position adjustment system described above may, alternatively or additionally to its configuration for enabling adjustment of the position of the movement means, be configured to enable adjustment of the position of the one or more cleaning elements, in a similar fashion. Such movement may be useful for enable the cleaning element(s) to move between the aforementioned clearance and contact configurations.

The position adjustment system may comprise a threaded member and may be able to effect said adjustment of the movement means and/or cleaning element(s) by being screwed to a desired setting. The threaded member preferably co-operates with a correspondingly threaded aperture in the housing. The movement means and cleaning elements may be connectable to one another. In this way the position adjustment system may be able to adjust the position of both components concurrently.

The slidable door assembly may be provided with a suspension system capable of cushioning the remainder of the assembly (and thereby the slidable door to which the assembly may be attached) from shocks which may occur as the movement means moves along the track. The suspension system may comprise any means suitable for achieving such a function, with suitable components including resiliently deformable elements, such as springs (e.g. coil springs, torsion springs, leaf springs, volute springs or gas springs); or elastomeric members.

The assembly may be configured such that the cleaning element(s) and/or movement means are biased towards the track, thereby improving contact between the track and the cleaning element(s) and/or movement means. Suitably, the suspension system may be configured to provide such a bias, for example by adjustment of the threaded member. It has been found that when the suspension is configured to provide the bias, the cleaning pads advantageously remain in contact with the track, improving their pressure to remove debris and thus their cleaning ability. The invention also provides the following embodiments a) to p):

a) A slidable door assembly comprising:

(iii) one or more cleaning elements;

wherein said one or more cleaning elements are configured to clean the track during movement of the slidable door. b) The slidable door assembly according to embodiment a), wherein the assembly comprises two of said cleaning elements. c) The slidable door assembly according to embodiment a) or b), wherein the one or more cleaning element(s) are pads. d) The slidable door assembly according to embodiment c), wherein the pads are comprised of felt. e) The slidable door assembly according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the assembly is configured such that the one or more movement means and/or cleaning element(s) are biased towards the track. f) The slidable door assembly according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the movement means comprise one or more rollers. g) The slidable door assembly according to embodiment f), wherein the one or more rollers are wheels.

The slidable door assembly according to any preceding embodiment, further comprising a position adjustment system configured to enable adjustment of the position of the cleaning element(s) and/or movement means. 0 The slidable door assembly according to embodiment h), wherein the position adjustment system comprises a threaded member. j) The slidable door assembly according to embodiment ), wherein threaded member co-operates with a correspondingly threaded aperture in the housing. k) The slidable door assembly according to any preceding embodiment, further comprising a suspension system. I) The slidable door assembly according to embodiment k), wherein the suspension system comprises a resiliently deformable element. m) The slidable door assembly according to embodiment I), wherein the resiliently deformable element is a spring. n) A slidable door assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figs. 2 to 5. o) A slidable door provided with a slidable door assembly according to any preceding embodiment. p) A kit of parts for a doorway, the kit comprising:

i) a slidable door assembly according to any one of embodiments a) to n); ii) a slidable door; and

a track for the slidable door.

The invention also provides the following embodiments A - N:

A. A slidable door assembly comprising:

(ii) a housing including the movement means, said housing being configured for attachment to the slidable door;

(iii) one or more cleaning elements; and

(iv) a suspension system, wherein said one or more cleaning elements are configured to clean the track during movement of the slidable door, the assembly is configured such that the one or more movement means and/or cleaning elements(s) are biased towards the track, and wherein the suspension system is configured to provide the bias towards the track.

The slidable door assembly according to embodiment A, wherein the assembly comprises two of said cleaning elements.

The slidable door assembly according to embodiment A or B, wherein the one or more cleaning element(s) are pads.

The slidable door assembly according to embodiment C, wherein the pads are comprised of felt.

The slidable door assembly according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the movement means comprise one or more rollers.

The slidable door assembly according to embodiment E, wherein the one or more rollers are wheels.

The slidable door assembly according to any preceding embodiment, further comprising a position adjustment system configured to enable adjustment of the position of the cleaning element(s) and/or movement means.

The slidable door assembly according to embodiment G, wherein the position adjustment system comprises a threaded member.

The slidable door assembly according to embodiment H, wherein threaded member co-operates with a correspondingly threaded aperture in the housing.

The slidable door assembly according to any previous embodiment, wherein the suspension system comprises a resiliently deformable element. K. The slidable door assembly according to embodiment J, wherein the resiliently deformable element is a spring.

L. A slidable door assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figs. 2 to 5.

M. A slidable door provided with a slidable door assembly according to any preceding embodiment. N. A kit of parts for a doorway, the kit comprising:

i) a slidable door assembly according to any one of embodiments A to L; ii) a slidable door; and

a track for the slidable door. For a better understanding, the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to and as shown in the accompany figures (not to scale) in which:

Fig. 1 is a reference figure showing a perspective view of two prior art slidable door assemblies;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of slidable door assembly according to the present invention as seen from the front thereof; Fig. 3 is a further perspective view of the slidable door assembly shown in Fig. 2 as seen from the front thereof;

Fig. 4 is a further perspective view of the slidable door assembly shown in Fig. 2 as seen from the lower end thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of a slidable door, having the slidable door assembly shown in Fig. 2 attached thereto, as seen from the front thereof. Referring firstly to reference Fig. 1 , there is shown therein two prior art slidable door assemblies 1 , 1 '. The assemblies 1 , 1 ' are configured to be attached to a slidable door to enable movement of that door along a track. The assemblies 1 , 1 ' both comprise a metal housing 2, 2', each having a single movement means in the form of a wheel 3, 3' provided therein and rotatably connected thereto. The wheel 3' of the assembly 1 ' in the right-hand image comprises an outer rubber tread 3a' having outer lips with an annular channel therebetween, and an inner hub 3b'. The wheel 3 of the assembly 1 in the left-hand image comprises a metal roller (also labelled 3) without any outer tread. In both assemblies 1 , 1 ', significant debris build-up in the form of dirt, dust, hair and other such debris (generally labelled 4, 4') can be seen adhered to the wheels 3, 3' and other parts of both of the assemblies 1 , 1 ', particularly on the outer tread 3a' in the assembly 1 ' in the right hand image. As a result of this debris build-up, the performance of the slidable door assemblies 1 , 1 ' has deteriorated to the point where servicing is required to clean or replace the (or parts of the) assemblies 1 , 1 '.

Referring next to Figs. 2 to 5, there is shown therein a slidable door assembly 10 according to the invention. The assembly 10 is configured to be attached to a slidable door and has movement means 1 1 to enable movement of such a door along a track. Fig. 5 shows the assembly 10 attached to such a slidable door 12 (only a portion of which is shown) and, for the purposes of the remaining description the assembly 10 shall be described as being so attached. References hereafter to the "door" should be taken to mean the door 12 shown in Fig. 5.

The assembly 10 illustrated is a bottom-rolling door system which enables the slidable door 12 to run on a track provided on a lower horizontal edge of a doorway. The assembly 10 comprises cleaning elements in the form of two felt pads (both labelled 13) which are able to clean the track during movement of the slidable door 12, thereby mitigating debris build-up on the assembly 10 and thus improving its service life.

The slidable door assembly 10 comprises a generally cuboid-shaped plastics material housing 14 having a single movement means in the form of a wheel (also labelled 1 1 ) provided therein and rotatably coupled thereto. The wheel 1 1 is located in the housing 14 such that a portion thereof projects out of a base of the housing 14, which projecting portion is able to roll along the track corresponding to the track on which the slidable door 12 is intended to move. The wheel 1 1 is fixed within the housing 14 so that it may only move in a linear fashion, equating to a linear track for the slidable door 12. As can be seen from Fig. 5, the projecting portion of the wheel 1 1 locates in a linear track 15 provided on a lower horizontal edge of the doorway, the linear track 15 corresponding to the linear track on which the slidable door 12 moves. The slidable door assembly 10 is configured to enable movement of the slidable door 12 along the linear track 15 in both a forwards direction (see arrow 15a) to close a doorway and a reverse direction (see arrow 15b) to open the doorway.

The pads 13 are configured so that they are in contact with the track 15 for the slidable door 12 (see Fig. 5). As the slidable door 12 moves, the pads 13 sweep the track 15, collecting and/or pushing aside debris which has built-up thereupon. One pad 13 is provided on each side of the wheel 1 1 , with the wheel 1 1 and the two pads 13 being co-linear with one another along an axis "A A" (Fig. 5) corresponding to the linear track 15 along which the wheel 1 1 is configured to move. In this way, the pads 13 are able to clean the track 15 ahead of and behind the wheel during movement of the slidable door 12. The cleaning pads 13 are each supported on a respective support strut 16 projecting outwardly from the housing 14 along the same axis "A A" (Fig. 5) corresponding to the linear track 15 along which the wheel 1 1 is configured to move. The cleaning pads 13 are provided on under-surfaces of the struts 16 so that they face the track 15 for cleaning.

The assembly 10 is attached to the slidable door 12 by means of a metal bracket 17 coupled to the housing 14. The portion of the bracket 17 which is attached to the slidable door 12 defines a region (hereinafter referred to as the "attachment region") from which the relative positions of other components in the assembly 10 may be measured. The housing 14 is slidably movable relative to the bracket 17, and both the housing 14 and the bracket 17 form part of a position adjustment system which allows the position of the wheel 1 1 and the cleaning pads 13 to be adjusted relative to the attachment region. More specifically, the position adjustment system allows the housing 14 and thereby the wheel 1 1 and the cleaning pads 13 (owing to their attachment to the housing 14) to move to be relatively extended from or contracted towards the attachment region. Fig. 2 shows the assembly 10 in a relatively contracted position, while Fig. 3 shows the assembly 10 in a relatively extended position. The position adjustment system comprises the aforementioned housing 14 and bracket 17 components, and further comprises a threaded bolt 18 connected to both the housing 14 and bracket 17. Sliding movement of the housing 14 relative to the bracket 17 is achieved by screwing and unscrewing the bolt 18 into a correspondingly threaded aperture in the housing 14 interior.

The aforementioned attachment region corresponds to a region of the door 12 onto which the bracket 17 is attached. The position adjustment system therefore enables the position of the wheel 1 1 and the cleaning pads 13 to be adjusted relative to the region on the door 12 to which the bracket 17 is attached. Such adjustments are useful during door installation, since the position of the wheel 1 1 and cleaning pads 13 can be adjusted in-situ, thereby enabling such components to be located in place (e.g. in/on the track 15) more easily.

The assembly 10 further comprises a suspension system which is configured to bias the wheel 1 1 and cleaning pads 13 towards the track 15 to improve contact therebetween and also to cushion the remainder of the assembly 10 (and thereby the slidable door 12 to which the assembly 10 is attached) from shocks which may occur as the wheel 1 1 moves along the track 15 (e.g. if the wheel 1 1 were to roll over an object on the track 15). The suspension system comprises two coil-spring assemblies 19 with one such assembly 19 being provided on either side of the threaded bolt 18 of the position adjustment system. The coil-spring assemblies 19 provide a connection between the housing 14 and bracket 17. In this way, although any shock to the wheel 6 would initially be transmitted to the housing 14 by virtue of its connection therewith; transmission of the shock on to the bracket 17 (and thereafter on to the slidable door 12) would be dampened by the coil-spring assemblies.

Claims

A slidable door assembly comprising:

(iii) one or more cleaning elements; and

(iv) a suspension system,

wherein said one or more cleaning elements are configured to clean the track during movement of the slidable door, the assembly is configured such that the one or more movement means and/or cleaning elements(s) are biased towards the track, and wherein the suspension system is configured to provide the bias towards the track.

The slidable door assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises two of said cleaning elements.

The slidable door assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more cleaning element(s) are pads.

The slidable door assembly according to claim 3, wherein the pads are comprised of felt.

The slidable door assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the movement means comprise one or more rollers.

The slidable door assembly according to claim 5, wherein the one or more rollers are wheels.

The slidable door assembly according to any preceding claim, further comprising a position adjustment system configured to enable adjustment of the position of the cleaning element(s) and/or movement means.

The slidable door assembly according to claim 7, wherein the position adjustment system comprises a threaded member.

The slidable door assembly according to claim 8, wherein threaded member cooperates with a correspondingly threaded aperture in the housing.

The slidable door assembly according to any previous claim, wherein the suspension system comprises a resiliently deformable element.

The slidable door assembly according to claim 10, wherein the resiliently deformable element is a spring.

A slidable door assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figs. 2 to 5.

13. A slidable door provided with a slidable door assembly according to any preceding claim.

14. A kit of parts for a doorway, the kit comprising:

i) a slidable door assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 12;

ii) a slidable door; and

iii) a track for the slidable door.