US2799332A - Folding closure - Google Patents

Description

I July 16, 1957 L. SCHEFF 2,799,332

' FOLDING CLOSURE Filed Jan. 30, 1953 ATTORNEYS.

FOLDING CLOSURE Lenard Scheif, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 30, 1953, Serial No. 334,277

1 Claim. (Cl. 16084) This invention relates to a folding door or closure for use in door openings or for separation of a room into separate compartments or sections.

It is an object of this invention to produce a folding door or curtain of the type described which greatly simplifies the construction and operation as compared to structures of like character now in use thereby markedly to reduce the cost and the material for construction without loss of operation or results.

Another object is to produce a folding door or curtain of the type described which is easy in operation, sturdy in construction, and manufactured of a few simple parts which can be prefabricated of readily available materials into sub-assemblies further toreduce the labor and cost factors.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in WhlCh- Figure l is a perspective elevational view of a portion of a folding door assembly embodying features of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of the arrangement of parts at the upper end of the pantograph from which the foldable curtain is suspended;

Figure 3 is a perspective elevational view of the bracket mounted on the upper end of the lazy tong levers;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a folding door assembly embodying a further modification of this invention;

Figure 5 is a top plan view illustrating the arrangement of parts when the elements are in expanded position, and

Figure 6 is a top plan view illustrating the arrangement between parts when the elements are in collapsed position.

In the past, folding doors or curtains of the type described have been constructed principally with a pair of vertically spaced and vertically disposed pantographs which join laterally spaced frame members to maintain a desired spaced parallel relationship between the frame members during shifting movement in the direction toward and away from each other to between closed and open positions respectively. The curtain of a textile or coated fabric is suspended from arms of a pair of upper and lower pantographs which are horizontally disposed for movement to control the folds of the curtain upon operation of the frame members between open and closed positions. Rails or other guide means are provided to support the upper and lower horizontally disposed pantographs during movement of the door between open and closed positions.

In accordance with the practice of this invention, the upper and lower horizontally disposed pantographs heretofore employed to support and fold the curtain during movement between open and closed positions is completely eliminated and its function and operation provided in a greatly simplified and expedient manner with an attachment constructed to operate as a part of the vertically disposed pantographs heretofore employed solely for maintaining a spaced parallel relation between the door frame members or posts. While the function of the States Patent horizontally disposedpantographs are provided by the construction which will hereinafter be described, it will be apparent that the attachment or modification of the vertically disposed pantographs is in no way similar or equivalent to the elements heretofore employed nor capable of substitution therefor from the structural standpoint.

As in present constructions, a folding door or wall embodying features of this invention makes use of a pair of upright frame members 10 and 11 of rigid material such as wood, plastics or metal, and connected by one or more vertically disposed pantographs P for maintaining a guided parallel relation between the frame members during movement of one toward the other between open and closed positions. The pantographs are of the usual construction having one lazy tong lever 13 pivoted upon another 14 at their centers 12 to form a pair with one pair of pivoted lazy tong levers joined to others adjacent thereto by pivotal connections between the ends of the adjacent arms, as illustrated.

In accordance with the practice of this invention it is necessary for the lazy tong levers to remain at a con stant level at one end and for this purpose the upper end portions 15 of the outermost lazy tong levers 16 and 17 on each end of the pantograph are fixed in a manner to prevent vertical shifting movement while the lower end portions 18 of the outermost lever arms 19 and 20 pivoted upon the first lever arms 16 and 17 respectively are permitted to shift vertically during operation of the pantograph between collapsed and extended positions of adjustment as effected during movement of the frame members 10 and 11 in the direction toward and away from each other respectively.

Various means may be used pivotally to secure the upper ends 15 of the outer levers to the frame members and slidably to secure the lower ends 18 of the outermost levers to the same frame members. As shown in the drawing, the upper ends 15 of the outermost arms 16 and 17 are pivoted upon ears 21 extending inwardly from brackets 22 fixed onto the inner wall at the upper portion of each frame member 10 and 11. The lower ends 18 of the lazy tong levers 19 and 20 are pivoted upon ears 23 extending inwardly from a bushing 24 mounted for sliding engagement on vertically disposed rods 25 secured in closely spaced apart relation to the inner wall along a lower portion of each frame member 10 and 11. It will be understood that other means may be used for guiding the lower end portion of the lazy tong levers during vertical movement and that such guiding means may also be eliminated, especially when two or more pantographs are present in the door construction.

Instead of making use of another group of horizontally disposed pantographs for supporting the curtain and for folding or unfolding the curtain during movement of the frame members between open and closed positions, as in present constructions, use is made of a new and novel arrangement wherein a horizontally disposed lever 30 is pivotally mounted on the substantially stationary ends of the pantograph levers for swinging movement about the center thereof in a horizontal plane and for rocking movement relative thereto in a vertical plane in order to maintain a desired horizontal relationship of the lever arm 30 notwithstanding changes in the angular positions of the pantograph levers as effected during operation between collapsed and expanded positions of adjustment.

As shown in the drawing, the horizontally disposed lever arms 30 which may be formed of wood, plastic, metal or the like, are pivoted intermediate their ends upon a pivot pin 31 extending upwardly from a horizontally disposed frame wall 32 of 'a bracket 33 and upon which the lever arm 30 rests. The pivot pins 31 extend through openings 34 in the lever arms and the pivot pins are provided with a stop nut 35 or upset in the through-extending portion to prevent displacement of the lever arm 30 from its assembled relation.

The curtain 44 formed of a textile material or coated fabric or the like is suspended to cover one side of the pantograph by attachment to the end portion of the lever arm 30 as by clips in the event that the lever arm is formed of metal or the like. t is preferred however to make use of lever arms fabricated of wood so that the upper edge portion 36 of the curtain may be lapped over the top wall 37 of the lever arm and secured thereto by stapling or by tacks 37 so that the curtain will be supported by the edge of the lever arm throughout a substantial length thereof thereby to prevent wrinkling, distortion and tearing which is characteristic of assemblies wherein the curtain is supported from eyelets or from fasteners alongthe side wall of the supporting pantograph arms.

In order to prevent angular adjustment of the brackets 33 responsive to rocking movement of the lazy tong levers during operation of the pantograph between collapsed and extended positions of adjustment, the bracket supporting the lever arms is further provided with a depending arm 38 which is positioned between the end portions of lazy tong levers of adjacent pairs and is provided with an opening 39 through which the pivot pin 40 connecting the lever arms extends to permit the bracket to ride in a vertical plane and thereby maintain its horizontal relationship independent of the angular positions of the lazy tong levers. It is preferred that the depending plate 38 extend substantially in alignment with the pivot pin 31 so as to support the lever arm 30 at a constant level independent of the adjustment of the pantograph.

Guide means such as rollers 41 may be provided for riding upon rails in the door frame to support and guide the structure during movement between open and closed positions of adjustment. Such guide rails may be provided exclusively on the movable frame member but it is preferred also to provide such guide rails on one or all of the brackets substantially as an extension of the pivot pin 31 or as an attachment thereto. Thus the pantograph levers as well as the frame members will be su ported during movement between open and closed positions of adjustment without interference with the movement of the levers 31 by which the desired folds in the curtain are effected.

In the event that it is unnecessary to provide a curtain to enclose the opposite side of the pantograph, the lever 30 may comprise an arm of substantially half the length pivoted at one end for swinging movement about the pivot pin 31, as in the arms 43 at each end pivoted upon brackets attached to the frame members and 11.

It will be apparent from the description that the lever arms pivoted on pins 31 and supporting curtains will be caused to swing about their pivots during opening and closing movements of the frame members to control the folds of the curtain and that lever arms of the type described will occupy less space than pantograph systems which have been heretofore employed. The positions of the arms, when the pantograph is shifted to extended position, will be determined by the length of curtain between arms and the attachment thereto, but it is preferred to mount the curtain for an opening to position the arms at an angle which will bring the end of one in alignment with the opposite end of the other so that the folds will be uniform on both sides and complementary, as illustrated in Figure 5. In this connection also, it is preferred to secure the curtain to one side of the lever arm and to limit such adjustment chiefly to the outer end portion thereof so as to permit free movement of the curtain through the major lengths thereof for flexing outwardly from between the lever arms and prevent pinching of the curtain or bounce when the door frame is adjusted to open position.

Though not equivalent, a further improvement in the construction of a folding door or closure is illustrated in Figure 4 wherein a flexible strip 50 of stiffening material preferably formed to be incapable of flexure other than in a lengthwise direction is secured as by stitching to the upper end portion of the curtain 51 and said strip member is in turn secured to the pivot pin which pivotally connects the upper ends of lazy tong levers of adjacent pairs and which is connected to the door frame members to maintain a constant level during movement of the pantograph to between extended and collapsed positions of adjustment. The stiffened strip secured to the curtain functions primarily to control the fold but need not be of a character to support the curtain since the curtain material itself, when supported as it is in closely spaced apart points, is able to supply its own support between pins to avoid sag. When curtains facing in both directions are used, a similar arrangement may be provided for mounting the curtain on the same pivot pins but on the opposite side of the pantograph. Such stiffening elements may also be mounted in a similar manner in the lower portion of the curtain for connection with other pantographs in the event that such are used.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that marked improvements are provided in the construction and operation of folding doors and closures of the type described whereby such members may be manufactured of relatively few simple parts into a more dependable, sturdier door which is characterized by lower cost and a more attractive appearance.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and operation without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claim.

I claim:

In a folding closure, vertically disposed parallel frame members in which one is shiftable relative the other in a common vertical plane between open and closed positions, a pantograph formed of pairs of vertically disposed lazy tong levers rotatable in the plane of the frame members about an axis perpendicular thereto and in which one is pivoted upon the other intermediate its ends with the end portions of the levers of one pair being pivoted onto the end portions of the levers of adjacent pairs with one end of the outermost levers being pivoted in fixed position onto the frame members for maintaining a uniform level along one of the vertical edge portions during adjustment of the pantograph between collapsed and extended posi- 1 tions responsive to movement of the frame members between open and closed positions respectively, a plurality of horizontally disposed lever arms unconnectable with each other, means mounting the lever arms onto each of the pivoted ends of the lazy tong levers of fixed vertical position for rocking movement relative thereto in a vertical plane parallel to the plane of the frame members and for swinging movement thereto in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the plane of the frame members and the axis of rotation of the pantograph levers comprising a bracket having a horizontally disposed platform, a pin extending upwardly perpendicularly from the platform and upon which the lever arm is rotatably mounted, a flange extending in opposite direction from the platform in alignment with the pivot pin, and means on the flange for pivotal connection with said pivoted ends of the lazy tong levers, and a curtain supported by said lever arms between the frame members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 684,130 Taubert Oct. 8, 1901 1,878,073 Van Sant Sept. 20, 1932 1,891,002 McCombie Dec. 13, 1932 1,907,021 Van Sant May 2, 1933 2,584,111 Brenner et al. Feb. 5, 1952

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