US748544A - Pocket-ball-bearing door and hanger therefor. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED DEC. 29, 1903.

J. K. THOMA. POCKET BALL BEARING DOOR AND HANGER THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

l HWIIJIW W/ TNESSES:

A TTURNE rs.

TN: Noam PETERS c0. wora-ummwwumcrom n. c.

.UNITED STATES Patented December 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES-K. THOMA, OF OOOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,544, dated December 29, 1903.

Application filed November 26, 1902. Serial'llo. 132,903. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that 1, JAMES KKTHOMA, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cooperstown, in the county of Otsego and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ball-Bearing Doors and Hangers Therefor, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of my invention is particularly to provide a top and bottom ball-bearing for sliding cased doors and a ball-bearing for the upper portion of hanging doors, such as barn or car doors, and to so confine the balls that their travel on the door will be limited, while their traveling engagement with either the overhead or the lower track will be unobstructed.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a bottom track for the roller-bearing door so constructed that it will have a longitndinal central gutter for the lower balls, a gutter at each side of the central gutter to receive dust and other foreign matter calculated to interfere with the action of the ballbearings, and longitudinal marginal flanges adapted for engagement one with a guide extension from the bottom of the door and the other for guided engagement with the weather-strip, and to provide an effective threshold-strip in connection with the bottom track, forming, preferably, an integral portion of the track.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 isa vertical section through the casing for the improved door, the door appearing in sectional side elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the door and casing, the section being taken practically on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of, the upper track and a protective hood for the sliding barn or car door therein, shown partially in side elevation. Fig. 4: is a vertical section taken practically on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a trans- .tion of said grooves.

verse section through the bottom track for a door adapted to slide ina casing, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l.

A represents a boxcasing, the jamb of which is designated as a, and the opening to be closed by the door B is that between the dotted line b and the inner face of the jamb. The bottom track 0 for the door is used in connection with the threshold strip C. In fact,these two parts may be integrally formed, as illustrated.

The track 0 is constructed as is particularly illustrated in Fig. 5, being provided with longitudinal upwardly-extending ribs 10 and 11 adjacent to its longitudinal edges, a central longitudinal bearing-section 12 in the upper face of the track, preferably of concaved formation, the side edges of which central bearing-section are below the plane of the upper edges of the ribs 10 and 11, and gutters 13 between the central section 12 and the ribs 10 and 11, which gutters are adapted to receive any extraneous matter that may collect on the central concaved section 12 of the track, as ball-bearings, to be hereinafter described, are to travel upon the said central section. In the threshold-strip C the central concaved bearing-section is continued and is designated as 12 The gutters 13 are, however, omitted, as well as one of the ribs, and the single rib employed is designatedas 11 and is located near one longitudinal edge of the said threshold-strip, as is shown in Fig. 2, while in the opposing longitudinal edge of the threshold-strip O a longitudinal recess 15 is produced, also shown in Fig. 2.

The door B is provided at the top and bot tom with preferably an attached strip, which strips are respectively designated as 16 and 17. These strips extend from the front to the rear edges of the door, and each strip 16 and 17 has a longitudinal dovetail groove 18 pro duced therein, extending from end to end of the strips. Balls 19, preferably of metal, are located in the grooves 18, being prevented from dropping out therefrom between the ends of the grooves by reason of the forma- The balls are introduced into the grooves at their ends and extend out beyond the strips 16 and 17 a suflicient distance to enable the lower balls to rest IOO upon the central bearing- sections 12 and 12 in the track 0 and threshold-strip 0 when the door is in place and the upper balls to bear against a continuous track 0 at the upper portion of the casing.

Short end divisions 20 and longer intermediate divisions 21 are formed in the dovetail grooves 18, each division containing, preferably, a single ball, and these divisions 20 and 21 are produced by entering screws 22 into the bottom portions of the dovetail grooves, as is shown in Fig. 1. These screws are placed at desired intervals apart and theirheads extend beyond the bottom of the grooves, while their threaded portions pass into the body of the door and hold the strips 16 and 17 to .the door.

It will be observed that the ball-bearings are perfectly free to travel upon the tracks, but are limited in their travel on the door by the heads of the screws 22.

When the door B is slid within the casing A, a spring 23 at the rear edge of the door is brought under tension, and if the door is not locked in its open position the spring when the door is released acts to automatically close the door.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the hanging or set of a sliding door in a casing can be effected in a convenient and economic manner and that the door will move with a minimum of friction and that the door may be readily taken out from its casing and as quickly replaced when desired.

The door is provided at one side of its bottom portion with a combined guide and weather strip 24, the said guide-strip being secured to the door in any suitable or approved manner. The said guide strip is curved downward, so as to engage with the outer edge of what may be termed the outer rib of the lower track and the continuation of said rib on the threshold-strip O, and at the inner side of the door a plate 25 is secured, preferably in an adjustable manner, having a movement upward and downward, and this plate 25 carries a strip 26, adapted to keep out wind and dust. This adjustment of the plate 25 may be obtained, as shown in Fig. 2, in which screws are illustrated as passing through slots in the plate into the door. The said protection-strip 26 in the closed position of the door is adapted to extend down into the recess 15, formed in the inner longitudinal edge of the said threshold-strip, as is shown in Fig. 2. As the protection-strip 26 is attached to the plate 25 and the plate is adjustable upon the door, the protection-strip may be adjusted downward to compensate for wear.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated the application of my invention to a car or barn door supported from overhead, in which views B represents the door, which is of thehanger type. The track 28 is of an inverted- U -shape pattern and is constructed practically the same as the bottom track 0, heretofore described. The vertical sides of the track 28 represent the longitudinal ribs 10 and 11 of the track 0; but the inner vertical member of the track 28 is higher than the outer member, as is shown in Fig. 4, and in this inner member of the track a longitudinal slot 30 is made. At the upper end of the said track member an inwardly-extending longitudinal flange 36is produced and the central or bearing surface of the track 28 is preferably fiat instead of being concaved, although said section may be concaved, if desired.

A catch-strip 31 is held to travel in the track 28, having a dovetail groove 32 in its under surface in which grooves balls 33 are loosely mounted, adapted to travel on the central or bearing surface of the track 28, as is shown in Fig. 4.

Opposing hangers 34 are secured to the door B at desired intervals apart, and bolts 35 are passed through opposing hangers, which latter extend up to the top of the cap-strip 31, the inner hangers being carried up to an engagement with the flange 36 of the track 28, as is also shown in Fig. 4, for the purpose of better guiding the door. The bolts 35 extend through the slots 30, and therefore assist also in guiding the door in addition to their prime function of connecting the cap-strip with the door. The balls 33 are held in divisions in the cap-strip 31, which divisions are formed in the same manner as has been described with reference to the divisions in the corresponding top and bottom strips 16 and 17, heretofore alluded to.

The overhead supported door Bis provided withv a hood 37, secured, preferably, to the track 28, which hood extends over the top of the door and downward at the front to prevent rain, hail, or snow from reaching the track 28 and the ball bearings operating thereon.

The strip 24, curved downward, as shown, constitutes a guide and a weather strip and is preferably applied to the door as is shown in Fig. 2, in which it will be observed that the upper edge of the strip is slipped in a shallow saw-cut in the bottom of the door, and said out may be made either in the bottom of the door proper or in the bottom doorstrip 17 and by this means of fastening water cannot run in behind the weather-strip.

The adjustable plate 25 and its attached protection-strip 26, which may be made of metal, cloth, or felt, is for the inside of the door and is for the purpose of keeping out wind and dust and may be adapted to inside doors as well as the inside of outside doors and will do away with thresholds for inside doors and provide for keeping out air and dust and prevents air or dust from passing from one room to another. This strip can be raised to permit air to pass under the door in summer-time and can be closed down in the winter-time.

Having thus described my invention, I

IIO

claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A door, a strip for a horizontal edge of the door, which strip has a groove in its outer face extending from end to end, being contracted at its upper portion, ball-bearings located in the said groove, extending out through the contracted portion thereof, and fastening devices passed through the said strip into the door, between adjacent ballbearings and projecting beyond the bottom ofthe groove in the said strip, whereby the ball-bearings are limited in their movement with respect to the door, and the means for restricting the movement of the ball-bearings are utilized to connect to the door the strip carrying the ball-bearings.

2. A track for sliding doors having longi-r tudinal side ribs, a central bearing-section, and gutters between the side ribs and the central bearing-section, substantially as described.

3. A track for sliding doors, having longitudinal side ribs, a central concaved bearingsection, gutters between the ribs and the bearing-section, and a threshold-strip continuous with the track, provided with a longitudinal rib at one side, a central bearingsection and a longitudinal recess at the opposing side, substantiallyas described.

4:. The combination with a door-casing and a track carried thereby, of a door provided with a cap-strip connected thereto at one end, said cap-strip having a dovetail groove and balls loosely mounted in said groove, adapted to extend out through the reduced portion of the groove and engage with the said track, and obstructive devices in the groove, between which devices the balls are located, said obstructive devices being carried through the cap-strip and into the door, serving not only to limit the movement of the balls but also to secure the capstrip to the door.

5. In a door and hangers therefor, the combination with a track having upwardly-extending side ribs, a central longitudinal bearing-section and gutters between the bearingsection and ribs, of a door having a dovetail groove in one end, obstructive devices located in the said dovetail groove, and balls located between the obstructive devices, which balls extend out through the contracted portion of the groove and engage with the central bearing-section of the track, substantially as described.

6. The combination with adoor-casing provided with an upper inverted- U shaped track, a lower track and a threshold-strip continuous with the lower track, the lower track being provided with upwardly-extending side ribs, a central bearing-section and gutters between the bearing-section and ribs, the threshold-strip being provided with a central bearing-section, a rib at one side and a recess at theopposite side, of a door, strips attached to the top and bottom portions of a door, the said strips having longitudinal dovetail recesses produced therein, obstructive devices in said recesses, which obstructive devices extend through the said strips into the door, constituting fastening devices for the said strips, and balls located in the said dovetail recesses between the obstructive devices, which balls extend out from the recesses to a bearing against the track and the threshold-strip, as described.

7. The combination with a door-casing provided withan upper inverted- U shaped track, a lower track and a threshold-strip continuous with the lower track, the upper track being provided with upwardly-extending side ribs, a central bearing-section and gutters between the bearing-section and ribs, the threshold-strip being provided with a central bearing-section, a rib at one side and a recess at the opposite side, of a door, strips attached to the top and bottom portions of the door, the said strips having longitudinal dovetail recesses produced therein, obstructive devices located in the said recesses, which obstructive devices extend through the strips into the door, constituting fastening devices for the said strips, and balls located in said dovetail recesses, extending out therefrom to a bearing against the said track and threshold-strip, a weather-strip attached to the door at its bottom portion, being in engagement with the rib on the lower track, a corresponding rib on the threshold-strip, and an adj ustable protective strip located at the opposite side of the door, and adapted in the closed position of the door to enter the recessed portion of the said threshold-strip, as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES K. THOMA.

Witnesses:

HARRIS L. OooKE, JESSIE M. BRANNING.

Images