WO2018045416A1

WO2018045416A1 - A wind force guard arrangement for a sliding door

Info

Publication number: WO2018045416A1
Application number: PCT/AU2017/050963
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lance Malcolm Vater
Original assignee: Lance Malcolm Vater
Priority date: 2016-09-06
Filing date: 2017-09-05
Publication date: 2018-03-15
Also published as: AU2017325105B2; AU2017325105A1

Abstract

A wind force guard arrangement for a sliding door including a longitudinal member that in a significant wind load event when significant wind forces are applied against the sliding door, lateral extension of the longitudinal member 5 from a relaxed position to an extended or flexed position translates to a clamping of a clamp arrangement about either or both of the upper rail or base rail supporting and/or guiding the sliding door so as to provide an inherent structural feature adapted to assist in preventing the collapse, buckling and/or disengagement of the sliding door from it's framed support structure during a 10 significant wind load event.

Description

A WIND FORCE GUARD ARRANGEMENT FOR A SLIDING DOOR

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[001 ] This invention relates to sliding doors the kinds of which are generally vertically supported at the top as well as including a wheel-type assembly at the base of the sliding door that engages an in-ground track so that the sliding door is able to be extended and retracted over relatively large openings in a wall of a building or warehouse.

[002] More particularly this invention relates to a unique design improvement to such sliding doors that can be fabricated into the sliding door arrangement without difficultly or significant cost so as to provide an inherent feature that can act as a guard against excessive wind force pressure against the sliding door, wherein such wind load if not guarded against could ultimately lead to the hazard of the door disengaging from the frame to which it is supported.

BACKGROUND ART DISCUSSION [003] In order to provide access into industrial buildings and warehouses there is often the requirement to have relatively large openings wherein sliding doors can be extended and retracted there across to control access into the building and/or warehouse.

[004] Generally these kinds of sliding doors are made from a frame to which metal cladding and the like is fixed thereon. The outer frame is generally constructed from roll-form or extruded tubular shaped rails or stiles. Once the frame has been constructed sub assemblies can be mounted to the top and/or bottom for slidable engagement with a corresponding track or rail above and/or below the sliding door.

[005] The problem is however, that as relatively large openings have to be covered by these sliding doors, the doors themselves are quite significant in size and therefore susceptible to pressures and forces of wind acting upon the sliding door. [006] Often industrial buildings and warehouses are located in flat open areas conducive to windy conditions.

[007] Also, while some areas are more prone than others to windy conditions there is also the potential for any area to be subjected to a particularly adverse weather event, even a once off, that could bring with it hazardous gale force winds.

[008] If the wind pressure upon the sliding door becomes too significant there is the potential for the sliding door to almost inwardly collapse and buckle, freeing itself from the constraints of its hung position within the door frame.

[009] Such a scenario could be catastrophic in that if the sliding door was to be completely dislodged it may act as a floating obstacle presenting as a real risk and hazard, both to human life and also the potential for further property structural damage to the building and/or surrounds.

[010] While the effects of higher wind loads can be minimised by increasing the structural thickness of the material used with the sliding door and adding additional struts and the like to the sliding door frame itself, these design consideration while assisting in resisting wind pressure, also makes the doors much more expensive to manufacture and with the increased weight of the sliding door to deal with the problems of wind load means that this then requires further upgrade and costs for the external framework and carriages that will appropriately be able to hang the sliding door across the opening in the wall of the building and/or warehouse.

[01 1 ] Therefore it would be particularly advantageous if there was a feature rather than simply more expensive fabrication of material that could be added to the sliding door to guard against an excessive wind force event just that would be designed to stop the sliding door from disengaging from the sliding door frame wherein this special feature would not bring any substantial increase in the cost of manufacturing the conventional sliding door.

[012] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide for a wind force guard arrangement that can be included as part of a sliding door that will be able to inherently function in the event of a significant wind force event against the sliding door preventing the sliding door from becoming disengaged from the door frame structure to which it is hung within the wall of the building and/or warehouse.

[013] Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a complete reading of the following specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[014] In one form of the invention there is provided a wind force guard arrangement for a sliding door, said wind force guard arrangement including;

[015] a longitudinal member, said longitudinal member including a first distal end and an opposing second distal end wherein the first distal end and the second distal end of the longitudinal member are adapted to fastenly engage a respective upper rail or a base rail to which a sliding door is slidably hung and supported therein a door frame across an opening in a wall of a building;

[016] wherein a fastening arrangement of the first distal end of the longitudinal member with the upper rail above the sliding door or with the base rail below the sliding door includes a clamp arrangement;

[017] said longitudinal member including a relaxed configuration wherein said longitudinal member is characterised as being laterally unextended in said relaxed configuration, said relaxed configuration of said longitudinal member provides for an un-obstructive open configuration of the clamp arrangement about the upper rail or the base rail;

[018] said longitudinal member further including a significant wind load configuration wherein said significant wind load configuration of the longitudinal member is characterised by being laterally extended away from said relaxed configuration of the longitudinal member; wherein when the longitudinal member is characterised by being laterally extended away from said relaxed configuration of the longitudinal member, the lateral extension of the longitudinal member induces the clamp arrangement to move to a clamped position about the upper rail or base rail. In preference the clamp arrangement is included at both the first distal end and the second distal end of the longitudinal member so as to allow both the upper rail and the base rail to be clamped by respective clamp arrangements at the first distal end and second distal end of the longitudinal member during a significant wind load configuration of the longitudinal member. In preference the clamp arrangement includes two pivotally supported arms which are either inwardly or outwardly rotatable one with respect to the other to provide the clamped position of the clamp arrangement to the upper rail or base rail when said two pivotally supported arms are rotated one with respect the other during a significant wind event. In preference the longitudinal member is a resilient strip.

In preference the longitudinal member is cable or cord.

In preference the cable, cord or resilient strip is made of metal.

In preference the cable, cord or resilient strip at a first end is connected to a pivot support arrangement supporting the two arms of the clamp arrangement. In preference the first end of the cable, cord or resilient strip is directly connected to the pivot support arrangement supporting the two pivotally supported arms of the clamp arrangement or the first end of the cable, cord or resilient strip is indirectly connected to the pivot support arrangement supporting the two pivotally supported arms of the clamp arrangement through additional structural framed or bracket components. In preference a lateral extension of the cable, cord or resilient strip translates to pivotal rotation of the two pivotally supported arms of the clamp arrangement to extend the two pivotally supported arms of the clamp arrangement inward or outward into the clamped position of the clamp arrangement. In preference the first distal end of the longitudinal member is connected to the clamped arrangement and wherein the clamp arrangement when in the clamped position is clamped about the base rail.

In preference the second distal end of longitudinal member is mounted to a carriage arrangement, wherein the carriage arrangement hangs the sliding door upon the upper rail.

In preference the second distal end of the cable, cord or resilient strip is connected to the carriage arrangement hanging the sliding door upon the upper rail through a cylindrical member.

In preference the cylindrical member also includes a hollow chamber section allowing for a degree of movement of the second distal end of the cable, cord or resilient strip within the hollow chamber section of the cylindrical member imparting a degree of inherent resiliency or flexion for the longitudinal member.

In preference the first distal end of the longitudinal member is indirectly connected to the clamped arrangement through an enclosed bracket. [019] In preference the enclosed bracket includes a hollow chamber section allowing for a degree of movement of the first distal end of the cable, cord or resilient strip within the hollow chamber section of the enclosed bracket imparting a degree of inherent resiliency or flexion for the longitudinal member.

[020] In a further form of the invention there is provided a wind force guard arrangement for a sliding door, said wind force guard arrangement including; [021 ] a longitudinal member, said longitudinal member including a first distal end and an opposing second distal end wherein the first distal end and the second distal end are adapted to fastenly engage respective upper rail/track or a base/in-ground rail/track to which a sliding door is slidably hung and/or supported therein a door frame across an opening in a wall of a building and/or warehouse;

[022] wherein the fastening engagement of the first distal end with the upper rail above the sliding door or with the base/in-ground rail/track below the sliding door includes a clamp arrangement;

[023] said longitudinal member including a relaxed configuration wherein said longitudinal member is characterised as being laterally unextended in said relaxed configuration, said relaxed configuration of said longitudinal member provides for an un-obstructive open configuration of the clamp arrangement about the upper rail or the base/in-ground rail/track;

[024] said longitudinal member further including a significant wind load configuration wherein said longitudinal member is laterally extended away from the relaxed configuration, said significant wind load configuration of the longitudinal member provides for a restrictive closed configuration of the clamp arrangement about the upper rail or base/in-ground rail/track;

[025] such that in a significant wind load event when significant wind forces are applied against the sliding door, lateral extension of the longitudinal member from the relaxed position to the significant wind load configuration translates to a clamping of the clamp arrangement about either the upper rail or base/in-ground rail/track thereby mounting and clamping the longitudinal member in place to provide an inherent structural feature adapted to assist in preventing the collapse of the sliding door thereby preventing disengagement of the sliding door away from the door frame to which the sliding door is hung therein.

[026] Advantageously in this broad form of the invention one could recognise that it is possible to introduce a feature to an existing sliding door which is able to provide the necessary guard and prevention mechanism against a significant wind force against the sliding door without the requirement of having to use more expensive fabricated metals and materials to increase the structural integrity of the sliding door thereby raising costs involved in manufacturing such sliding doors.

[027] This unique wind force guard arrangement that can be included as part of the sliding door will be able to use much lighter and less expensive sliding doors that otherwise would be expected if one was going to guard against the effects of high force winds which are capable of collapsing the sliding door and causing

disengagement away from the door frame in which the sliding door is hung.

[028] Uniquely, the longitudinal member which is at least slidably mountable at one end and then has the clamp arrangement at the other means that if the longitudinal member has a change in its configuration from being relaxed to the at least partially laterally extended configuration which results from wind force pushing against the sliding door, this then activates the clamp so it can then clamp itself about the rail or track to which it is positioned thereabouts, whether that be at the top or at the base of the door within the door frame to which the sliding door is hung.

[029] In other preferred embodiments of the invention the clamp arrangement can be included at both the first distal end and the second distal end.

[030] In this type of arrangement it is envisaged that the clamp would still slidably rest and be supported at both the upper rail/track as well as the base/in-ground rail/track associated with holding and guiding the sliding door within the door frame.

[031 ] However in the event of a significant wind event the clamp arrangements then at both ends would clamp about the respective upper or lower rail or track.

[032] In preference the clamp arrangement includes two pivotally supported arms which are either inwardly or outwardly rotatable one with respect to the other to create a restrictive closed clamp configuration of the clamp arrangement about the upper rail or base/in-ground rail/track during a significant wind event. [033] In preference the cord at one end is connected to the pivot arrangement supporting the two arms of the clamp arrangement.

[034] In preference lateral extension of the cord or cable translates to pivotal rotation of the two arms of the clamp arrangement to extend the arms of the clamp

arrangement inward or outward into the restrictive closed clamp configuration of the clamp arrangement.

[035] In preference the first distal end of the longitudinal member is connected to the clamped arrangement wherein the clamp arrangement is clampable about the in- ground rail at the base of the sliding door. [036] In preference the second distal end of longitudinal member is mounted to a carriage arrangement, wherein the carriage arrangement assists in hanging the sliding door upon the upper rail or track at the top of the sliding door within the door frame.

[037] Advantageously, in this preferred embodiment the longitudinal member engages the existing carriage arrangement at the top of the door as it is hung in the door frame whereby at the opposing first distal end of the longitudinal member which includes the clamp arrangement, the clamp arrangement is allowed to slide there along the in-ground rail.

[038] As introduced above, in the event of a significant wind load event against the door, this will then pressurise the longitudinal member to laterally extend out away from its relaxed configuration into the significant wind load configuration thereby causing the clamp arrangement to clamp about the rail just below the ground at the base of the door.

[039] In preference the cable or cord of the longitudinal member is able to engage with the overhead carriage of the sliding door upon the upper rail through a cylindrical member. [040] In preference the cylindrical member includes a thread which is able to match the thread of a bolt extension extending out from the overhead carriage upon the upper rail which supports the sliding door within the door frame.

[041 ] In preference the cylindrical member also includes a hollow chamber section which allows for a degree of movement of the cord or cable within the hollow chamber section of the cylindrical member which imparts that degree of inherent resiliency for the longitudinal member to allow it to move from the relaxed

configuration wherein the longitudinal member is in the laterally un-extended configuration, to the significant wind load configuration wherein the longitudinal member is laterally extended.

[042] In order now to describe the invention in greater detail a series of preferred embodiments will be presented with the assistance of the following drawings and accompanying text.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [043] Figure 1 is a part cross-sectional view of a sliding door being supported upon an upper rail or track with the wind force guard arrangement of a preferred embodiment of this invention.

[044] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a sliding door being supported upon an upper rail or track wherein the wind force guard arrangement of a preferred embodiment of this invention has been included as part of the sliding door.

[045] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the clamping arrangement of the wind force guard arrangement in a preferred embodiment of this invention engaging the in-ground rail/track.

[046] Figure 4 is a close up cross-sectional view of part of Figure 3 showing the clamping arrangement of the wind force guard arrangement in a preferred embodiment of this invention engaging the in-ground rail/track. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[047] Referring to the drawings now in greater detail wherein a sliding door (10) is supported upon an upper rail (12) by way of the carriages (14). Also an in-ground rail (19) is set, in this preferred embodiment, slightly below ground level and is connected to the sliding door (10) by some means, which is discussed further below.

[048] Generally the sliding door (10) is able to be slidably retracted from a closed to opening position across an opening in the wall of the building and/or warehouse.

[049] However as introduced above, when significant wind forces are placed against the sliding door (10) there can be the tendency for the sliding door (10) to collapse or buckle and therefore disengage from the rail (19) at the base of the sliding door (10) and also then be pulled away from the overhead hanging support of the upper rail (12).

[050] This invention however provides for the introduction of a wind force guard arrangement, which includes notably the longitudinal member (21 ), which in a preferred embodiment is a metal cable, again referenced as (21 ).

[051 ] At one distal end (22) the cable (21 ) engages within the hollow chamber (25) of the cylindrical member (23), wherein the cylindrical member (23) is able to threadably engage with the bolt (24), which is part of the carriage arrangement (14).

[052] At the other end of the cable (21 ) at distal end (27) is the clamp arrangement shown generally as (26) in Figures 1 and 2 and then detailed in greater detail in Figures 3 and 4.

[053] As is to be generally envisaged from Figures 1 and 2, the longitudinal member (21 ) is held within a generally relaxed configuration where it is laterally unextended or not flexed, being able to be supported at distal end (22) through the engagement with carriage (14) and then at the other end by the clamp arrangement (26) as the clamp arrangement (26) rests upon the rail (19). [054] Hence under normal operating conditions when there is no significant wind load being forced upon the door (10), the wind force guard arrangement does not hamper the operation of the sliding door (10), the wind force guard arrangement simply slides along, as the clamp arrangement (26) is not clamping about the rail (19) because the longitudinal member (21 ) is in the relaxed configuration, that being a laterally unextended or not flexed configuration.

[055] As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, the clamp arrangement (26), includes a pair of arms (32) and (33) that can be pivotally moved relative to the other, essentially because of lateral movement of the longitudinal member (21 ) which in this preferred embodiment shown, is ultimately caused by the pair of arms (32) and (33) action against the abutment (31 ).

[056] Arrow (34) represents potential movement of the cable (21 ) from a laterally unextended relaxed configuration to the significant wind load configuration when the cable (21 ) would be then laterally extended or flexed. [057] This lateral extension represented by arrow (34) can translate to relative rotational movement of the arms (32) and (33) of the clamp arrangement (26), which forces the arms (32) and (33) of the clamp arrangement (26) shown by way of arrows (36a) and (36b) up against the rail (19).

[058] In the preferred embodiment the cable (21 ) is secured to the enclosed bracket (40). Shown as (41 ) is a structural feature representative for securing the end (27) of the cable (21 ) to the clamp arrangement (26) which is achieved by the enclosed bracket (40) then bolted through the bolt arrangement (43) with the clamp

arrangement (26).

[059] As is to be envisaged from Figures 3 and 4, when the wind blows and the sliding door (10) is pushed in or out by the force of the wind, this laterally flexes or extends the cable (21 ) away from it's relaxed longitudinal configuration.

[060] As the cable (21 ) flexes, given the cable (21 ) is connected to the clamp arrangement (26) through the enclosed bracket (40) this causes the main block (44) of the clam arrangement (26) to also rise up or lean forward or backwards depending on the wind direction. This movement of the main block (44) is then felt by the member (42) connected to the main block (44) to which the abutment (31 ) is mounted. [061 ] The movement of abutment (31 ), wherein that movement of the abutment (31 ) originally resulted from lateral movement of the cable (21 ) forces pivotal movement on the arms (32) and (33) of the clamp arrangement (26) resulting in the fixation of the arms (32) and (33) of the clamp arrangement (26) about the rail (19) while the wind force remains against the sliding door (10), [062] The fixation of the arms (32) and (33) of the clamp arrangement (26) about the rail (19) while the wind force remains against the sliding door (10) fixes the wind force guard arrangement in place at the base of the sliding door (10) and as the opposing second distal end (22) of the cable (21 ) is mounted and fixed in place by virtue of being threadably engaged with the carriage (14) supporting the sliding door (10) means that during these significant wind events when wind force is placed upon the sliding door (10), structural integrity can be maintained preventing the sliding door (10) from self-collapsing or buckling and disengaging out of the rail (19) and/or the overhead support upon the rail (12) in which the sliding door (10) is hung there upon through carriage (14). [063] As discussed previously, the clamping arrangement could work at either or both the top and bottom sections of the sliding door (10) by virtue of the longitudinal member (21 ). For example in other embodiments (not shown) the clamping arrangement (26) could have the pair of arms (32) and (33) clamping about a rail that is responsible for supporting and engaging with the top edge of the sliding door (10). [064] Also in Figures 3 and 4 just one wind force guard arrangement is shown, however multiple wind force guard arrangements can be installed as part of the sliding door (10), depending on specific requirements.

[065] Also importantly this invention is not limited to that particular clamping mechanism involving just arms (32) and (33) referred to above, wherein arms (32) and (33) are used only illustratively for a preferred embodiment and not for the entire scope of this invention.

[066] The scope of the invention is deliberately intended to capture any type of clamping arrangement wherein the clamping action is instigated to clamp about the rail in the event that there is lateral movement of the longitudinal member away from the relaxed configuration, which has resulted from a significant wind load event.

[067] Still even further, although not shown in the illustrations these kinds of sliding doors (10) can also often include at the base of the sliding door (10) support subassemblies which include respective wheels and the like adapted to engage the in- ground rail (19) to assist in supporting the sliding door (10), and also supporting the sliding movement of the sliding door (10). In preferred embodiments the wind force guard arrangements of this invention can be incorporated into these kinds of subassemblies.

Claims

1 . A wind force guard arrangement for a sliding door, said wind force guard arrangement including; a longitudinal member, said longitudinal member including a first distal end and an opposing second distal end wherein the first distal end and the second distal end of the longitudinal member are adapted to fastenly engage a respective upper rail or a base rail to which a sliding door is slidably hung and supported therein a door frame across an opening in a wall of a building; wherein a fastening arrangement of the first distal end of the longitudinal member with the upper rail above the sliding door or with the base rail below the sliding door includes a clamp arrangement; said longitudinal member including a relaxed configuration wherein said longitudinal member is characterised as being laterally unextended in said relaxed configuration, said relaxed configuration of said longitudinal member provides for an un-obstructive open configuration of the clamp arrangement about the upper rail or the base rail; said longitudinal member further including a significant wind load configuration wherein said significant wind load configuration of the longitudinal member is characterised by being laterally extended away from said relaxed configuration of the longitudinal member; wherein when the longitudinal member is characterised by being laterally extended away from said relaxed configuration of the longitudinal member, the lateral extension of the longitudinal member induces the clamp arrangement to move to a clamped position about the upper rail or base rail.

2. The wind force guard arrangement of claim 1 wherein the clamp arrangement is included at both the first distal end and the second distal end of the longitudinal member so as to allow both the upper rail and the base rail to be clamped by respective clamp arrangements at the first distal end and second distal end of the longitudinal member during a significant wind load configuration of the longitudinal member.

3. The wind force guard arrangement of claim 1 wherein the clamp arrangement includes two pivotally supported arms which are either inwardly or outwardly rotatable one with respect to the other to provide the clamped position of the clamp

arrangement to the upper rail or base rail when said two pivotally supported arms are rotated one with respect the other during a significant wind event.

4. The wind force guard arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the longitudinal member is a resilient strip.

5. The wind force guard arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the longitudinal member is cable or cord.

6. The wind force guard arrangement of claim 4 and 5 wherein the cable, cord or resilient strip is made of metal.

7. The wind force guard arrangement of claim 4, 5, or 6 wherein the cable, cord or resilient strip at a first end is connected to a pivot support arrangement supporting the two arms of the clamp arrangement.

8. The wind force guard arrangement of claim 7 wherein the first end of the cable, cord or resilient strip is directly connected to the pivot support arrangement supporting the two pivotally supported arms of the clamp arrangement or the first end of the cable, cord or resilient strip is indirectly connected to the pivot support arrangement supporting the two pivotally supported arms of the clamp arrangement through additional structural framed or bracket components.

9. The wind force guard arrangement of claim 8 wherein a lateral extension of the cable, cord or resilient strip translates to pivotal rotation of the two pivotally supported arms of the clamp arrangement to extend the two pivotally supported arms of the clamp arrangement inward or outward into the clamped position of the clamp arrangement.

10. The wind force guard arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the first distal end of the longitudinal member is connected to the clamped arrangement and wherein the clamp arrangement when in the clamped position is clamped about the base rail.

1 1 . The wind force guard arrangement of claim 10 wherein the second distal end of longitudinal member is mounted to a carriage arrangement, wherein the carriage arrangement hangs the sliding door upon the upper rail.

12. The wind force guard arrangement of claim 1 1 wherein the second distal end of the cable, cord or resilient strip is connected to the carriage arrangement hanging the sliding door upon the upper rail through a cylindrical member.

13. The wind force guard arrangement of claim 12 wherein the cylindrical member also includes a hollow chamber section allowing for a degree of movement of the second distal end of the cable, cord or resilient strip within the hollow chamber section of the cylindrical member imparting a degree of inherent resiliency or flexion for the longitudinal member.

14. The wind force guard arrangement of claim 10 wherein the first distal end of the longitudinal member is indirectly connected to the clamped arrangement through an enclosed bracket.

15. The wind force guard arrangement of claim 14 wherein the enclosed bracket includes a hollow chamber section allowing for a degree of movement of the first distal end of the cable, cord or resilient strip within the hollow chamber section of the enclosed bracket imparting a degree of inherent resiliency or flexion for the

longitudinal member.