US1856235A - Sliding door structure - Google Patents

Description

May 3, 1932- A. BrrToRF 1,856,235

SLIDI NG DOOR STRUCTURE Filed July 17, 1930 rif/1111711111 fo 7"/ Jozzwaloy Patented May 3, 1932 UNIED STATES PATENT `OFFICE LOUIS A. BITTORF, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS SLIDIN G DOOR STRUCTURE Application filed July 17,

My invention relates generally to sliding door structure and has to do particularly with means for supporting the door and moving it along a track. This application is a continuation in part ot my copending application, Serial No. 196,670, tiled June (i, 199,7, for sliding door structure.

@ne of the objects ci my invention is to provide tor so adj ustably connecting the door to the carriage supporting structure that in the event of saggingl or warping, or the like, the door may be readily and quickly adjusted without disturbing the already-assembled parts. To this ond, I employ a strong and durable bracket for direct connection to the door and an adjustable connection between this bracket and the carriage structure, the bracket being oi such forni and construction as to aid in and permit of adjustment of the parts without removal of the bracket, which construction also adds to the strength and ci'iicicncy and durability of the bracket itself.

@ther objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings, wherein,"

Figure l is a iront elevational View, partially in section, ot one form of structure embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Ifig. 3 is a sectional view ot a inodiiied torni ot door hanger embodying my invetnion; and

Iig. 4 is a transverse sectional view ot the structure shown in Fig. 3.

`btetei-ring 'to the drawings, and particularly to 1,1 may employ a bracket 6 formed, preferably, but not necessarily, of two pieces secured together as by the rivets 7, the bracket being substantially of the shape as shown in lilig. 2 and having the inwardly projecting llanges o upon which the track 8 is carried. This bracket G is also provided with a cent ally disposed rib 6b which adds greatly to its strength and durability.

The rectangularly shaped track 8 has internal trackways 8a with the upturned contining ilanges 8b. The space 8c between the flanges 8b is for a purpose which will become obvious later. The track is, preferably,

1930. Serial No. 468,477.

formed by a plurality of sections 8X and SY joined end to end as at SZ to form a complete track. In the assembly ot the track sections, the ends thereoi are brought together within and are supported by the bracket 6. For obvious reasons, there is clearance between the track 8 and the bracket 6 as indicated at 9 in Fig. 2. To anchor these meeting track ends in such a way that they will be positively fixed and maintained in a definite joined position so that they will always present a smooth track surface, I provide the top portion of the bracket 6 with external bosses 10 having threaded openings passing therethrough and adapted to receive the 'set screws ll. The screws 11 pass through the top ot the bracket 6 at substantially its central portion and have their inwardly projecting ends tapered to a sharp point as at lla.

Openings 12 are provided in the top ot the track adjacent each meeting end and in alignment with the openings in the bosses l0. These openings, which are smaller in diameter than the screws l1, receive the tapered ends ll:l of such screws.

To adjust and tix the adjoining track ends in the desired position, they are inoved to the abutting position shown in Fig. l, whereupon the screws il are screwed inwardly with their tapered ends passing through the openings l2, such screws being drawn down tightly to clamp the track against the inwardly extending bottom langes 6a on the support G. The screws ll may be drawn down separately ory at the saine time and to variable extents so` as to insure that each track section is properly anchored and that the joint presents a smooth track surface. If desired, the openings l2 may be omitted so that the sharp endsW of the screws 11 will engage and indent the top surface of the track when such screws are adjusted as above set forth.

The carriage structure has a body 13 with wheels 1li adapted to be carried by the trackA 8 in the usual manner, as shown in Fig. 9.. 'Ihe central portion of the body 13 is provided with a vertical hub l5 adapted to rotatably receive a headed depending support pin 16 which has a threaded portion extending downwardly through the opening 8C ofthe track Jfor attachment to the door bracket 17. The bracket 17 is L-shaped and is attached to the door 18 by bolts 23. It is highly desirable to provide for adjustment of the bracket and door because the door may warp or sag making operation of the saine dillicult or of a highly undesirable nature. lt is also desirable to provide means for effecting adjustment to compensate for such warping or sagging without disassembly of the parts in View o'l the great inconvenience that would be experienced after the structure had been completely assembled and in use. To accomplish this adjustment in accordance with my invention, the bracket 17 is provided with a centrally disposed and hollow longitudinal rib 19. An opening 20 is provided in the horizontal leg ot the rib which is adapted to receive the threaded. end of the pin 16. The `pin 16 may have an exceptionally long threaded portion to take care of adjustments `over a wide range so that it proj eets through the bracket 17 a considerable distance as shown in Fig. 2. ln that case, an opening is provided in the adjacent part of the door to receive the inwardly extending end of the pin. in securing the bracket 17 upon the threaded portion 01"' the pin, a lock nut 2l (Fig. 2) is first screwed onto the depending tend of said pin. The pin is then passed A4through the opening 20 and the adjusting nut 22 is applied and drawn up to the desired po sition. The lock nut 21 is drawn down tight- ,ly to lock these parts in position. adjustment may be readily and quickly accomplished without removal ot any ot the parts merely by loosening the lock nut 21 to the desired extent and turning the pin 1G in one direction or the other as the adjustment re quires. After this adjustment, the lock nut 21 is again tightened up. The rectangularly shaped rib 19 makes` possible the adjustment as explained by holding the nut 22 stationary while the pin is turned. This rib is of such a character as to conceal the adjusting nut 22 and pin end to protect such parts from the weather and its deteriorating ellects. It further serves to strengthen the bracket 17 and rend yr the same capable of withstanding greater load and adds elliciency over a greater period of time.

lin the modified in Figs. 3 and il, l shaped brackets 8O and 31 to the bracket 6 of the i'ioiin et i io: l These brackets have centrally-disposed, nollovv ribs Se and 35 which are of such relative size that the outwardly projecting ribs nest one within the other when the brackets are mounte on the d oor in the manner illustrated in the drawings. These ribs are provided with longitudinal slots 36, 87 which align with each other in the nested position of the brackets -for the reception of the threaded end of the stem 38 depending from the door carriage structure. rl`he brackets are provided with suitable openings Jfor the reception of fastening devices for securing` the same to the door on opposite sides of the latter and the door is attached to its carrying-trolley in the same manner as illustrated and described in connection with the form of Figs. 1 vand 2. The manner of adjustment, and further operation, of Athis modilied form o'l' structure is the same as that already described in `connection with the form Yof the previous figures.

Although l have shown and described only two embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that various .changes in details and arrangements of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ci Imy invention defined 4by the claim which follows. it will be further understood that my invention is not limited to use with a sliding door structure as described, but may also be used in conjunction with any sliding panel, or the like, where similar conditions are to be inet.

l claim:

in garantis of the character described, compr ing a track, a carriage supported by and movable along said track, a depending connector freely rotatably connected to the -arriage, said connector having a threaded end portion and an exposed unthreaded intermediate portion vadapted to be engaged for adjusting the connector, a ba het member adapted to be attached to the door, said bra ckhaving a horizontally disposed inwardly projecting portion substantially overhangingthe upper edge oit' the door anda hollow rectangular rib open at one end Jfoi-med in the horizontally disposed portion ol' the bracket and adapted to receive the threaded portion of the connector, an adjusting nut positioned within the rib through its open end and engaging a wall of the i'ib so as to be held against rotation for cooperating with the threads of the connector to adjust said door vertically as the connector is rotated relative to the nut, without disturbing the assembly relation between the carriage and the connector, and a lock nut carried by the connector and engaging the adjacentside of the rib for maintaining the connector and ldoor `in their adjusted positions.

LOUIS A. BITTORF.

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