US3615144A

US3615144A - Hanger and track for sliding doors and the like

Info

Publication number: US3615144A
Application number: US881655A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gordon J Plemeng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-12-03
Filing date: 1969-12-03
Publication date: 1971-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-26

Abstract

AN ELONGATE LONGITUDINAL, PREFERABLY L-SHAPED CROSS SECTION AND PLASTIC TRACK IS SECURED AT AN UPPER EDGE OF A DOOR OPENING AND LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLY SUPPORTS A DOOR THROUGH HANGERS FASTENED TO SAID DOOR. EACH HANGER IS INVERTED GENERALLY L-SHAPED IN CROSS SECTION ENGAGING UPWARDLY OVER A TRACK FLANGE AND DOWNWARDLY INTO SAID TRACK WITH A RESILIENTLY DEFORMABLY KEEPER PROJECTING GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY UNDERLYING AND ADJACENT SAID TRACK. THE KEEPER THEREBY NORMALLY RESTRICTS UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE HANGER TO RETAIN ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE HANGER AND TRACK BUT IS RESILIENTLY DISTORTABLE UPWARDLY AGAINST THE TRACK FOR PERMITTING UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE DOOR AND HANGER TO DISENGAGE SAID HANGER FROM SAID TRACK. THE HANGERS MAY BE FORMED UNITARY OF PLASTIC WITH THE KEEPERS

OF REDUCED CROSS SECTION FOR RELATIVE RESILIENCY AND THE REMAINDERS OF THE HANGERS INCREASED CROSS SECTION FOR RELATIVE RIGIDITY.

Description

Oct. 26, 1971 G. .J. PLEMENG l 3,615,144

HANGER AND TRACK FOR SLIDING DOORS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 5, 1969 I le v v 2o Y v36 32 5o 2a se 2*-1 FIGJ.

INVENTOR. Ie GORDON J. PLEMENG i l; l BYMAHONEY,HORNBAKER J24 J 2 AND SCHICK l ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,615,144 HANGER AND TRACK FOR SLIDING DOORS AND THE LIKE Gordon J. Plemeng, 1321 N. Myer St., Burbank, Calif. 91506 Filed Dec. 3, 1969, Ser. No. 881,655 Int. Cl. E05d 13/02 U.S. Cl. 49-411 8 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE An elongate longitudinal, preferably L-shaped cross section and plastic track is secured at an upper edge of a door opening and longitudinally slidably supports a door through hangers fastened to said door. Each hanger is inverted generally L-shaped in cross section engaging upwardly over a track flange and downwardly into said track with a resiliently deformably keeper projecting generally transversely underlying and adjacent said track. The keeper thereby normally restricts upward movement of the hanger to retain engagement between the hanger and track but is resiliently distortable upwardly against the track for permitting upward movement of the door and hanger to disengage said hanger from said track. The hangers may be formed unitary of plastic with the keepers of reduced cross section for relative resiliency and the remainders of the hangers increased cross section for relative rigidity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved hanger and track for sliding doors and the like and more particularly, to a unique hanger and track combination wherein the sliding doors are normally retained engaged with their supporting tracks and against inadvertent disengagement therefrom, yet when it is desired to remove the doors from their supporting tracks, such removal may be accomplished merely through a positive upward and transverse movement of the doors without the necessity of removal of any track or hanger parts. Even more particularly, the unique door hangers of the present invention each include a resiliently deformable keeper projecting therefrom underlying and adjacent the door supporting track, normally retaining longitudinally movable and door-supporting engagement between the hanger and track, while being upwardly distortable against the track and permitting such disengagement upon a positive upward force being applied against the door and hanger.

Various hanger and track combinations have heretofore been provided for longitudinally slidably mounting doors in door openings. Furthermore, one of the age-old problems with sliding doors has been just how to slidably mount the same relative to the door opening normally positively retained positioned and slidable, yet relatively easily originally installed and relatively easily selectively removable without the complete disassembly of various of the hanger and track parts. For instance, the most common method of slidably supporting doors in door openings is to secure a supporting track extending longitudinally of the door opening at the upper edge thereof and provide hangers on the door which may be engaged transversely over and downwardly into the track to slidably support the door thereon.

lf merely the simple form of hook-shaped track and opposite hook-shaped hangers on the door are provided with adequate clearance, it is possible to longitudinally movably support the door on the track -merely through slight transverse inward movement of the hangers relative to the track while retained thereabove and then downward interengagement through a lowering of the door, but such construction, without more, is readily subject to inadvertent disengagement and a freeing of the door from the track when such action is not desired. As a result, many prior constructions, although basically using this simple construction, have added various ilanges and other forms of keepers to the hangers or track which may be installed once proper supporting engagement between the door hangers and track has been obtained, such flanges and keepers interfering with upward movement of the door relative to the track and thereby preventing inadvertent disengagement therefrom. This method of safe securement, however, is relatively unpopular and objectionable in use since it is `quite a time-consuming operation, usually involving the original installation and subsequent removal and replacement of a series of fasteners for original installation and subsequent removal and re-installation of the doors on the track. i

In order to eliminate these time-consuming operations, other prior constructions have included a form of interengagement between the track and door hangers which cannot be disengaged merely through vertical upward movement of the door relative to the track, but rather requires a simultaneous inward or outward tilting of the door relative to the door opening in order to complete the disengagement. Although this tilting form of disengagement is safe in use and avoids the problem of inadvertent disengagement between the door and track, there are many occasions where the same may not be used due to the lack of space for permitting such door tilting. Also, where overlapped sliding doors are to be provided, the most usual case of sliding door installation, this complex manipulation for engagement and disengagement between the doors and tracks becomes even more difcult and prohibitive.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved hanger and track for sliding doors and the like wherein longitudinally movable mounting of a door in a door opening is accomplished through interengagement of door hangers with a track at an upper edge of the door opening and a unique fonmof keeper is formed on the door hangers securely retaining the door supported on the track during normal use, yet permitting selective disengagement and re-engagement between the door hangers and track merely through vertical and slight transverse movement of the door relative to the track. With such construction, it is unnecessary to inordinately tip or angle the door relative to the door opening, but rather the door may remain perfectly upright in natural hung position during original installation, or for later selective removal and re-installation, the only motion being required being that of slight upward and transverse movement relative to the door opening and overhead suporting track installed therein. Furthermore, there is no requirement of the removal of fasteners for the separation of llanges or keepers from either the supporting track or door hangers, the unique keeper construction of the present invention maintaining the door hangers properly engaged with the supporting track during use, but still permitting the separation between the door hangers and the supporting track upon the application of positive disengagement forces of the proper form. i

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved hanger and track for sliding doors and the like wherein despite the marked advantages over anything heretofore provided, the unique keeper concept of the invention may be carried out with a keeper construction, although specifically placed, of uncomplicated nature, relatively simple form and positive of operation for performing the desired functions. The preferred form of the keeper is comprised of a resiliently deformable flangelike member projecting generally transversely from the door hanger or hangers and adjacent an underside of the supporting track when the door hanger is properly movably engaged with said track, the keeper normally resisting upward movement of the door hanger and door secured thereto during normal movement of the hanger and door relative to the track. When it is desired to disengage the hanger from the supporting track for removal of the door from the door opening, however, the resilient deformability of the unique keeper will permit slight upward and transverse movement of the hanger and door relative to the supporting track when such positive disengagement forces are applied thereto, the reengagement merely requiring the reverse movement of the respective elements.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved hanger and track for sliding doors and the like which satisfies all of the foregoing objects, yet may be provided at a minimum material and labor expenditure. Again in the preferred form, the hanger with its unique keeper may be formed unitary of various plastic materials with increased cross sectional dimensions being used in the main portion of the hanger for the necessary rigidity and door-supporting strength thereof, and with the cross sectional dimensions of the keeper being reduced from the main portion thereof to provide the functionally necessary resilient deformability of the keeper for proper coaction in the combination as described. Also, the supporting track may be formed of similar plastic to even further increase the economics of the overall construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which are for the purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF 'DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a typical door opening having overlapped sliding doors installed therein by use of an embodiment of the improved hanger and track construction of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 2 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional View taken from FIG. 2 and illustrating the simplified operation of disengaging the door hangers from their supporting tracks during removal of one of the doors from the door opening; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the door hangers removed from the assembly shown in FIGS. l and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENT CONTEMPLATED Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a typical door opening is generally indicated at having typical front and rear, generally rectangular and longitudinally overlapped door panels generally indicated at 12 and 14 installed therein by use of a preferred embodiment of the improved hanger and track combination of the present invention. As is also typical, the door panels 12. and 14 are vertically suspended longitudinally slidable or movable relative to each other from an upper door frame member 16 exposing or closing off desired portions of the door opening 10 during such longitudinal movement. Furthermore, such suspension of the

door panels

12 and 14 maintains the panels spaced above a lower door frame member 18 within which are installed usual upwardly projecting door guides 20 at the normal overlapped zones of the panels with the door guides being upwardly received into longitudinal grooves in panel lower edges 24.

`More particularly to the improved hanger and track construction of the present invention, a track assembly member generally indicated at 26 is secured recessed within the upper door frame member 16 and includes a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending tracks generally indicated at 28 formed integrally thereon. Each of the tracks 28 is generally L-shaped in transverse cross section opening upwardly and having a lower, generally horizontal and transverse base 30 terminating transversely forwardly in an upwardly projecting flange 32 so as to likewise open transversely forwardly. As shown, it is preferred to form the track assembly member 26 with the pair of tracks 28 unitary, preferably from plastic such as one of the polyvinyl or acrylic plastics and of sufficient cross sectional thickness so as to be relatively rigid.

As shown in the particular embodiment illustrated, each of the front and

rear door panels

12 and 14 is suspended on its respective track 28 of the track assembly member 26 by a pair of longitudinally spaced hangers generally indicated at 34, although it is obvious that a single elongated hanger or more than two spaced hangers could be used for each door panel depending on the particular sizes, weights and conditions involved. In any event, each of the hangers 34 includes a supporting portion 36, preferably of inverted, generally L-shaped transverse cross section, downwardly connected to a fastening portion 38, which preferably extends generally vertically, and a rearwardly projecting, resiliently deformable keeper 40, which extends rearwardly of the supporting and fastening portions. Also, a positioning flange 42 may be connected extending forwardly of the fastening and supporting

portions

36 and 38 in order to preset the positioning of the hangers 34 on their

respective door panels

12 and 14 as will be hereinafter described.

As was true of the track assembly member 26, the hangers 34 are preferably formed unitary so that all portions thereof are integral and likewise are preferably formed from a plastic, such as a polyvinyl or acrylic plastic. Furthermore, as clearly shown, particularly in FIGS. 2 and 4, each of the hangers 34 has the supporting and fastening

portions

36 and 38 thereof, and the positioning flange 42 thereof formed of relatively thickened transverse cross sections so as to be relatively rigid. The keeper 40` of each of the hangers 34, however, is formed of a reduced transverse cross section compared to the portions and flange so as to be relatively resiliently deformably or distortable.

As shown in installed positioning in FIG. 2, the hanger fastening portions 38 are secured abutting rear surfaces 44 of the

respective door panels

12 and 14 by usual fasteners 46 with the hanger positioning flanges 42 overlying and abutting panel upper edges 48, the positioning flanges serving to locate the hangers 34 properly on the respective door panels. The hangers 34 as installed with the tracks 28 of the track assembly member 26 are positioned with the hanger supporting portions 36 extending upwardly and outwardly along the track flanges 32, over the upper extremities of said flanges and downwardly into the tracks 28, such downward engagement being accomplished by a downwardly projecting flange S0 on the hanger supporting portions 36 lying transversely inwardly of the track flange 32 as shown. With the hanger supporting portions 36 thusly engaged with the tracks 28, the hanger keepers 40l underlie the track bases 30, the keepers projecting transversely inwardly from the hanger supporting and fastening

portions

36 and 38 spaced downwardly from the track bases 30 and preferably' arcuately upwardly terminating inwardly slightly spaced from said track bases but adjacent thereto.

As may be particularly noted in FIG. 2, any spacing of the inward extremities of the hanger keepers 40 downwardly from the track bases 30 is far less and a very small fraction of described downward projection of the flanges 50 of the hanger supporting portions 36 within the tracks 28 and as interengaged rearwardly of the track flanges 32. Thus, in normal position and without distortion or deformation thereof, the hanger keepers 40 maintain the hanger supporting portions 36 engaged with the tracks 28 while permitting free movement of the hangers and their supported

door panels

12 and 14 longitudinally along and guided by the tracks 2S. As illustrated herein, the hangers 34 are merely longitudinally slidable along the tracks 28 with the interfacing plastic surfaces of the respective elements forming the door panel supporting and bearing surfaces, but it is obvious that the common sliding door rollers and other arrangements could be used as desired for forming similar interengagement between the hangers and tracks, all of which are well known to those skilled in the art.

When it is desired to remove either of the

door panels

12 or 14 from their longitudinally movable support on the tracks 28, it is merely necessary to positively move the particular door panel directly and positively upwardly as clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, until the flanges 50 on the hangers 34 are above the track anges 32, thereby distorting or deforming the hanger keepers 40, through the resilient deformability thereof, against the track bases 30. A following slight transverse movement outwardly of the particular of the

door panels

12 or 14 will then disengage the hangers 34 from the tracks 28 so as to permit complete removal of the door panels while still maintaining the same in their usual vertically extending positions. The original installation or the later re-installation after removal of the

door panels

12 and 14 for support and longitudinal movement on the tracks 28 is merely the reverse procedural movement described, the hangers 34 ultimately being interengaged with the tracks 28 and the keepers 40 being permitted to return to their undistorted or undeformed positions as shown in FIG. 2 ready for maintaining proper interengagement between the hangers and tracks during normal longitudinal movement of the door panels.

According to the principles of the present invention, therefore, an improved hanger and track for sliding doors and the like is provided, including a unique form of positively retained interengagement between the door panel hangers 34 and the door panel supporting tracks 28 wherein the door panels are properly longitudinally movable or slidable along the tracks in normal use, yet the door panels may be quickly and conveniently disengaged from the tracks and removed from the door opening merely through slight upward and transverse movement relative to the tracks. As a result, the

door panels

12 and 14 may be originally installed, or removed and re-installed in the door opening 10 for their longitudinal movement without the removal of any keepers or flanges and without any great amount of tilting which has been previously required with many of the prior art constructions. Furthermore, the hanger and track construction providing the foregoing advantages is of unique simplicity and may be provided at a minimum of cost, as well as providing a savings in installation time and cost.

I claim:

1. Hanger and track construction for sliding doors and the like, the combination of: an elongate longitudinal track opening upwardly and terminating transversely in an upwardly projecting ange; and a hanger comprising an inverted generally L-shaped supporting portion longitudinally movably engaged extending upwardly adjacent an outer side of said track flange and generally transversely over said track flange and downwardly into said track, a fastening portion connected to said supporting portion outward of said track and having means thereon for mounting a door supported longitudinally movable by said hanger, a keeper portion connected to said supporting portion projecting generally transversely adjacent and underlying said track normally restricting said supporting portion against upward and transverse outward disengaging movement relative to said track and track flange, said keeper portion including resilient means for permitting distortion of said keeper portion upwardly against said track and upward and transverse disengagement of said supporting portion from said track upon a force being applied moving said hanger upwardly and transversely outwardly of said track and track ange.

2. Hanger and track construction as defined in claim 1 in which said track keeper portion normally projects from said supporting portion generally transversely and upwardly to adjacent said track.

3. Hanger and track construction as defined in claim 1 in which said hanger is formed unitary of plastic, said supporting and fastening portions being of increased cross section relative to said keeper portion and being relatively rigid compared to said keeper portion, said keeper portion being of decreased cross section relative to said supporting and fastening portions and being relatively resilient compared to said supporting and fastening portions.

4. Hanger and track construction as defined in claim 1 in which said track is formed of plastic and is generally L-shaped in transverse cross section; in which said hanger is formed unitary of plastic, said supporting and fastening portions being of increased cross section relative t0 said keeper portion and being relatively rigid compared to said keeper portion, said keeper portion being of reduced cross section relative to said supporting and fastening portions and being relatively resilient as compared to said supporting and fastening portions; and in which said hanger keeper portion normally projects generally transversely and upwardly from said supporting portion to adjacent said track.

5. Hanger and track yconstruction for sliding doors and the like, the combination of: an elongate longitudinal track opening upwardly and terminating transversely in an upwardly projecting range; and an inverted generally L-shaped hanger longitudinally movaibly engaged upwardly transversely over said track flange and downwardly into said track, said hanger having means for supporting a door thereon and longitudinally movable therewith, a resiliently distortable keeper on said hanger projecting adjacent and underlying said track normally restricting upward movement of said hanger preventing upward and transverse disengagement of said hanger from said track, said keeper through said resilient distortability thereof permitting generally transverse disengagement between said hanger and track upon said hanger being moved upwardly relative to said track resiliently distorting said keeper upwardly against said track.

6. Hanger and track construction as defined in claim 5 in which said hanger keeper is formed of a resiliently distortable plastic.

7. Hanger and track construction as defined in claim 5 in which said hanger is formed unitary of plastic, said hanger keeper having at least parts thereof of reduced cross section compared to the remainder of said hanger forming said keeper relatively resiliently distortable and said hanger remainder relatively rigid.

`S. Hanger and track construction as defined in claim 5 in which said hanger is formed unitary of plastic, said hanger keeper having at least parts thereof of reduced cross section compared to the remainder of said hanger 7 8 forming said keeper relatively resiliently distortable and 3,293,685 12/ 1966 Rosenbaum 16-87.6 said hanger remainder relatively rigid; and in which said 3,516,113 6/ 1970 Hechtel 1696 X hanger keeper projects from said hanger normally spaced downwardly of said track and normally extends upwardly FOREIGN PATENTS t d' 'd f o a jacent sal track 271,581 s/1965 Australia 49-409 References Cited 476,129 12/ 1937 Great Britain 16-876 UNITED STATES PATENTS J. KARL BELL, Primary Examiner 3,178,760 4/1965` Kalal et a1. 16-87.6 10 U.S. C1. X.R.

3,198,243 8/1965` Ford 160-345 X 16-94