EP0444379B1

EP0444379B1 - Mechanism for the assembly of sliding doors

Info

Publication number: EP0444379B1
Application number: EP90500128A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Miquel Angel Tarrega I Lloret
Original assignee: Klein Iberica SA
Current assignee: Klein Iberica SA
Priority date: 1990-03-01
Filing date: 1990-12-27
Publication date: 1993-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2010-12-27
Also published as: ES2021213A6; DE69005289T2; DE69005289D1; EP0444379A1; DK0444379T3; ATE98737T1

Abstract

Mechamism for the assembly of sliding doors which consists of an upper rail (4) and a lower rail (5) on which an upper guide component (3) and a lower rolling component (2) move along, these being integral parts of the door (1). The rolling component (2) comprises a plaque (33) which is afixed to the door (1) and a wheel (34) with a peripherical groove (35). The guide component (3) consists of a support plaque (6) which can be attached to the door (1) and a gliding component (7) which can be anchored to the plaque (6), this being a flat piece (7) which has, at two of its opposite edges, longitudinal, central grooves (19-20) with a slightly convex outline. At least the groove (35) of the wheel (34) is slightly deeper than that of the rim of the rail (48) on which it moves along, the wings which form the groove resting in the longitudinal tracks (50) formed in the rail (2).

Description

This invention refers to a sliding door assembly which is particularly suitable for the assembly of cupboard doors or those of other items of furniture.
More specifically, the mechanism described in this invention is of the type which comprises an upper rail, a lower rail, a lower rolling component and an upper guide component. The upper and lower rails are attached to the surfaces or areas of the door which define the upper and lower limits of the space to be closed off, whilst the rolling component and the guide component are attached to the internal surface of the door, adjacent to its lower and upper edges.
European Patent No. 285.540 of the same applicant reveals a door assembly according to the preamble of claim 1 and shows a mechanism for the hanging of doors, consisting of an upper track and a lower track, fixed in the upper and lower space to be closed, a lower revolving component and an upper gliding guide component, fixed on the inside of the door, with grooves along longitudinal rims of the respective lower and upper tracks, the revolving component having an anchoring plate which is fixed to inner surface of the door, and has a wheel mounted on its outer part, wheel having a peripheral groove and fixed by means of an axle to said plate, while the upper guide component comprises a support plate which is fixed to the inside of the door and a guiding component anchored to the support plate, said guiding component having an almost flat form and longitudinal grooves in two of its opposing edges.
The rolling and guide components include grooved areas which are in contact with a longitudinal rim projecting vertically from the rails.
The groove bottoms of both the rolling component and the guide component rest on the crest of the rim and this, coupled with sectional details of said rim and groove. causes the walls of the groove to rub against the rim whilst the door is moved back and forth, thereby producing the characteristic friction noise.
Moreover, both the rolling component and the guide component must be mounted on the rails very accurately to avoid the formation of gaps which would interfere with door movement. Due to the structure of said rolling and guide components, it is very difficult for the fitter to ensure that they are completely and accurately positioned, it being difficult to compensate for slight variations which might occur during the assembly process.
The aim of this invention is to produce a mechanism of the type described above, which is structured in such a way that the guide and rolling components move back and forth smoothly and quietly on the rails.
This objective is achieved by way of specially designed grooves in the rolling and guide components and the design of the rail rim, together with the structure of these components which allows for them to be positioned on the rails correctly and by means of a simple process, whilst allowing for possible variations to be compensated for.
The invention refers to a sliding door assembly, of the type that comprises an upper rail and a lower rail, respectively fixed facing each other to the surfaces or zones which delimit the upper and lower limits of the space to be closed off, and a lower rolling component and an upper guide component, fixed to the interior surface of the door, these having edges and grooves which slide along a longitudinal rim of the lower and upper rails, respectively, the lower rolling component consisting of an anchorage plate which can be attached and fixed to the interior surface of the door, and a wheel which has a peripheral groove mounted on the exterior surface of the plate by means of an axle which juts out from and is made fast within said plate, the upper guide component consisting of the door and a gliding component which can be anchored to the support plate, the gliding component being a flat piece with a more or less square outline and having, at two of its opposite edges, central longitudinal grooves, characterized in that the grooves and the edges of the gliding component have a convex outline, with a curve radius equal to twice the distance between mentioned edges, the gliding component being mounted on the plate with anchoring means consisting of two horizontally aligned cylindrical projections which jut out from the exterior surface of the plate and are topped off by an outer cylindrical head, and two symetrical, vertical, rectangular passage slots in the gliding component, which include an internal track with a depth and width aproximately equal to the height and diameter of the cylindrical projections of the plaque, and an external track having a width and depth approximately equal to the diameter and height of the heads of mentioned projections, the internal track having an enlarged central circular area with a diameter equal to the heads of the projections; the gliding component additionally having, on its external surface, a central projection which is elastically retractable, which can be partially introduced into two central windows formed in the plate, the central windows being vertically alligned and separated by an intermediate ramp or slope, said central projection being introduced in the lower window, when the cylindrical projections of plate are positioned in the central enlarged area of the windows of the gliding component while, when said gliding component moves in an ascending direction, central projection is introduced into the other window; and in that the grooves of the gliding component, as well as the groove of the wheel, have cross sections that increase in the direction of the aperture with a concave bottom which is slightly wider than that of the rim and at least the groove of the wheel has a depth slightly grater than the height of the rim of the rail, such that the wings that form it rest on longitudinal tracks formed in the rails on either side of the rim and the longitudinal rim of the rails becoming larger towards its base part.
The characteristics detailed above and other related features of the invention, are described below in more detail, making reference to the attached drawings which show a possible and non-restrictive operational example of the invention:
Figure 1 is an interior elevated view of a door to which the mechanism described in this invention is attached.
Figure 2 is a front elevated view of the support plaque of the upper guide.
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views of the stretches III-III and IV-IV, respectively, shown in figure 2.
Figure 5 is an exterior elevated view of the gliding component of the upper guide component.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views of stretches IV-VI, VII-VII and VIII-VIII, respectively, shown in figure 5.
Figure 9 is an exterior elevated view of the anchorage plaque of the lower rolling component.
Figure 10 is a sectional view of the stretch X-X shown in figure 9.
Figure 11 is a diametric section of the wheel of the lower rolling component.
Figure 12 is a transversal section of the profile which forms the upper and lower rails.
Figure 13 is a profile view of the door shown in figure 1, with the rail and upper guide component, with a sectional view of the XIII-XIII stretch, showing one of the first assembly stages of the gliding component.
Figure 14 is a sectional view of stretch XIV-XIV shown in figure 1, showing the final position of the gliding component.
Figure 15 is a sectional view of stretch XV-XV shown in figure 1.
Figure 1 shows the internal surface of a door where a rolling component is attached to its lower edge (2) and a guide component to its upper edge (3). These components move along the upper and lower rails (4 and 5, respectively), these being attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the door (1) which delimit the space to be closed off (see figure 13).
The upper guide component consists of a support plate (6) attached to the door (1), and a gliding component (7) which is attached to the plate (6).
The structure and characteristics of the upper guide component are described below, making reference to figures 2 to 8.
Figures 2 to 4 show the support plate (6) in detail, this being of rectangular shape and having two cylindrical projections attached to one of its surfaces, these being in transversal alignment, and at a different distance with respect to the two transversal edges. Each of these cylindrical projections has two flat, beveled edges (9) which are parallel to the longitudinal edges of the plate and are topped off by an outer butt or head (10). The plate (6), projections (9) and butts (10) are pierced by an axial screw hole (11), which has a conical enlargement in the area of the butt (10) At the centre of the plate (6) there are two windows (12 and 13) in axial alignment, these being slightly wider at the front or fore part of the plate (6). These two windows are separated by an intermediate, crosspiece (14) of which one edge is flat (15) slopes towards the window (13) The flat surface of this plate is attached to the surface of the door by means of screws (16) - (see figure 13) - which are introduced through the screw holes present in the cylindrical projections (9).
As shown in figures 5 to 8, the gliding component is made up from a flat piece which is thicker than the plate (6) and has a more or less square shape, its two opposite edges (17 and 18) having a slightly convex outline, with a curve radius equal to double the distance between these edges. In addition, both edges (17 and 18) have longitudinal, central grooves (19 and 20), which grow slightly wider towards their outlet and are curved at the bottom. The walls which define the groove (19) can include one central division at the front wall (21) and two outer divisions at the back wall (22). The bottom part of the grooves (19 and 20) has the same convex outline as that of the edge in which they are made, and are concentric to these edges.
In addition, the plate has two symmetrical, vertical passage slots (24 and 25), which have a central, circular enlarged zone (26). At the external surface of the plate, these slots are surrounded by a peripherical depressed area (27). Between the openings (24 and 25) the external surface of the plate (7) has a vertical hollowed out area (28), which is closed off by a thin sheet (29), shaped in such a way that it forms an intermediate, transversal fold or wave (30), with side pieces (31) that curve in the opposite direction to said fold or wave (30). In addition, there are slots (32) present at the longitudinal edges of this sheet which, together with the shape of said plate, provide for elastic deformation of this latter piece.
The edges (17 and 18) and the bottom parts of the corresponding grooves (19 and 20) are situated at different distances from the mid, transversal line of the gliding component which is assumed to pass through the centre of the circular enlargemed areas (26) of the windows (24 and 25).
In order to attach the gliding component (7) to the support plate (6), the butts (10) of the cylindrical projections (9) of the support plate (6) are introduced through the circular enlarged areas (26) of the windows (24 and 25) of the gliding piece (see figure 13). At this stage, the protruding part (30) of the central hollowed out area (28) of the gliding component, will be situated in the window (13) of the support plate (6). The gliding component then moves in an upwards direction until the protruding part (30) of the gliding component moves from one window (13) to the other (12). This operation is made easier by the intermediate ramp or slope (15). The gliding component is now held against the support plate by means of introducing the protruding part (30) in the window (12) and by the elastic deformation ability of the strip (31) of the hollowed out area (28) Depending on whether the gliding component is attached to the support plate as shown in figure 5, or in its opposite position, the distance from the edge (17 or 18) will vary and, subsequently, the distance between the corresponding groove and the rail (4) will vary. This structure allows for compensation of possible errors or variations with respect to the door or furniture frame. Figure 14 shows the final position of the gliding component (7) on the anchor piece, where the protruding part (30) is inserted in the window (12).
The structure of the lower rolling component will be described below making reference to figures 9 to 11. This component consists of an anchor plate (33) - (see figure 15) - and a wheel (34) with a peripherical groove (35).
As shown in figures 9 and 10, the anchor plate (33) has a more or less trapezial shape and an outer rim (36) around its upper and adjacent lateral edges. At the lower edge of the plate there is a circular depressed area (37) which follows the same outline as the rims (36) and is of the same height. The lower surface of the depressed area (37), and the rims (36) will rest on the door (1) - (see figure 15).
Within the depressed area (37) of the plate, there are two openings (38 and 39), one in the centre (38), and the other eccentric (39) and in horizontal alignment with the former (38). As can be observed in figure 10, these two openings are surrounded by conical structures (40 and 41) which project in opposite directions to each other, one (40) projecting towards the inside of the depressed area (37) and the other (41) towards the outside. Within the surface area surrounding the depressed area (37), the plate has three openings (42, 43 and 44). Two openings are of a curved oblong shape and are concentric to the eccentric opening (39). The third opening (44) is in horizontal alignment to the former openings (38 and 39). The openings (42, 43 and 44) are surrounded by a step (45).
As shown in figures 1 and 15, the support plate (33) is attached to the door (1) by means of screws (46) which are introduced through the openings (42, 43 and 44) and by a centre pin (47). This centre pin (47) and the axle (48) of the wheel (34), have an axial shank which is introduced, from opposite sides, into the openings (38 and 39) situated within the depressed area, and is made fast in the concave part of the structures surrounding these openings. This provides for a simple system of axle (48) and pin (47) anchorage. The shape of the openings (42 and 43) allows for the plaque (33) to spin around the anchor pin (47), in this way compensating for possible errors with respect to the height of the door (1) in relation to the lower rail (5).
This constitution, both with regard to the lower rolling component and the upper guide component, provides for perfect height adjustment of the door (1) and the gliding component (7), in relation to the lower and upper rails (5 and 4, respectively), whilst ensuring that the door slides back and forth smoothly.
The groove (35) of the wheel (34), becomes larger towards its outlet, as is the case with the groove (19) of the gliding component (7).
The rails (4 and 5) have the same composition, and consist of a strip or band with screw holes (47) - (see figure 13) - by means of which they will be afixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the door (1) which define the space to be closed off. This strip or band has a longitudinal wing (48) which decreases in size towards its crest or free edge, where it tops off into a convex stretch. At either side of the wing (48), the rail plaque has coplanary tracks (50). The longitudinal rim (6) is slightly smaller in height and section than the groove (35) of the wheel (34). As shown in figure 13, this structure ensures that the wheel (34) rests in the tracks (50) via the edge of the wings which define the groove (35), without the crest (49) of the rail rim (48) touching the bottom of the groove.
In this way, when the door is moved back and forth and the wheel (34) turns and moves forward, contact between this wheel and the rail is via contact of the groove (35) outlet (i.e. widest part), with the crest (49) of the rim (48) (i.e. the narrowest part of this rim). In this way, the internal surface of the wall which forms the groove (35), does not rub against the lateral surfaces of the rim (48), thereby providing for a smoother and more silent movement of the door.

Claims

Sliding door assembly, consiting of an upper rail (4) and a lower rail (5), respectively fixed facing each other to the surfaces or zones which delimit the upper and lower limits of the space to be closed off, and a lower rolling component (2) and an upper guide component (3), fixed to the interior surface of the door, these having edges and grooves (35,19) which slide along a longitudinal rim of the lower (5) and upper (4) rails, respectively, the lower rolling component (2) consisting of an anchorage plate (33) which can be attached and fixed to the interior surface of the door (1), and a wheel (34) which has a peripheral groove (35) mounted on the exterior surface of the plate by means of an axle (48) which juts out from and is made fast within said plate (33), the upper quide component (3) consisting of a support plate (6) which can be fixed to the interior surface of the door (1) and a gliding component (7) which can be anchored to the support plate (6), the gliding component (7) being a flat piece with a more or less square outline and having, at two of its opposite edges, central longitudinal grooves (19,20) characterized in that the grooves (19,20) and the edges of the gliding component (7) have a convex outline, with a curve radius equal to twice the distance between mentioned edges, the gliding component (7) being mounted on the plate (6) with anchoring means consisting of two horizontally aligned cylindrical projections (9) which jut out from the exterior surface of the plate (6) and are topped off by an outer cylindrical head (10), and two symetrical, vertical, rectangular passage slots (24, 25) in the gliding component (7), which include an internal track with a depth and width aproximately equal to the height and diameter of the cylindrical projections (9) of the plaque (6), and an external track having a width and depth approximately equal to the diameter and height of the heads (10) of mentioned projections (9), the internal track having an enlarged central circular area (26) with a diameter equal to the heads (10) of the projectons (9); the gliding component additionally having, on its external surface, a central projection (30) which is elastically retractable, which can be partially introduced into two central windows (12, 13) formed in the plate (6), the central windows being vertically alligned and separated by an intermediate ramp or slope (15), said central projection (30) being introduced in the lower window, when the cylindrical projections (9) of plate (6) are positioned in the central enlarged area (26) of the windows (24, 25) of the gliding component (7), while, when said gliding component (7) moves in an ascending direction, the central projection is introduced into the other window; and in that the grooves (19, 20) of the gliding component (7), as well as the groove of the wheel (34), have cross sections that increase in the direction of the aperture with a concave bottom which is slightly wider than that of the rim and at least the groove of the wheel has a depth slightly greater than the height of the rim (48) of the rail (5), such that the wings that form it rest on longitudinal tracks 50 formed in the rails (4, 5) on either side of the rim (48), and the longitudinal rim of the rails becoming larger towards its base part.
Sliding door assembly as in claim 1, distinguished in that the anchorage plaque (33) of the lower rolling component (2) has, along its upper and adjacent side edges, an outer rim (36) and, at its lower edge, a circular depressed area (37) of the same height and projecting in the same direction as the rim (36), to define the resting point on the surface of the door (1).
Sliding door assembly as in claim 1, distinguished in that the gliding component (7) has, on its external surface, a central longitudinal depressed area (28), situated between the two rectangular windows (24, 25), restricted by two longitudinal slots (32) which form a flexible strip (29), in the central part of which there is a curved fold (30) which forms the central, elastically retractile, outer projection of the gliding component (7).