A movement device for sliding doors and a sliding door incorporating the device

Abstract

 A movement device (1) for sliding doors (2) equipped with a frame (3) supporting a door (2) which slides along the frame (3) between a closed position in which it is next to a frame contact upright (4) and an open position in which it is distanced from the upright (4). The device has return means (7) positioned between the upright (4) and the door (2) to move the door (2) between the open position and the closed position. The return means (7) have at least one linear elastic element (8) with axial extension substantially in the plane in which the door (2) lies and deformable in a linear fashion along said axial extension.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a movement device for sliding doors and a sliding door incorporating said device.

[0002] As is known, sliding doors normally connected to partition walls have a supporting frame, usually rectangular, consisting of an upright, an upper crosspiece engaged on the top of the upright and perpendicular to it and a casing which contains the door in the open position.

[0003] In particular, the containment casing engages with the side of the upper crosspiece opposite the upright and its shape is substantially identical to that of the door which it must contain. The opening between the casing and the upright forms the passage that the sliding door must block or leave clear.

[0004] The containment casing, which may be inserted in a partition wall (recessed), consists of a box-shaped body with an opening for the passage of the door, said opening facing the upright.

[0005] Alternatively, sliding doors are also known which are positioned next to the wall and adjacent to said passage. In this case, the door in the open position is not inserted in a casing, but slides on an upper horizontal portion and a lower horizontal portion designed to support and guide the door as it slides. Said horizontal portions are connected to the wall next to the passage to position the door next to the wall and with its planar extension parallel with the planar extension of the wall.

[0006] The door is mounted inside the frame and is free to slide horizontally away from and towards the upright in a direction parallel with the planar extension of the door.

[0007] In this way, when the door is opened, it moves away from the upright and is inserted in the casing if it is a recessed sliding door; or, if the frames are next to the side wall, the door moves into position next to the wall. When the door is closed (automatically or manually) it moves towards the upright, exiting the containment casing, to block the passage.

[0008] To facilitate door movement, special slide guides are fitted at least at the upper crosspiece of the frame, in which the upper edge of the door engages. There may also be guides in the floor for the lower edge of the door. The upper and lower edges of the door may be fitted with means which facilitate their sliding, for example wheels, bearings, etc.

[0009] The sliding doors are also equipped with a movement device for closing the doors automatically after they have been opened manually.

[0010] Sliding doors are known with a connecting cable for connecting a counterweight to a lateral edge of the door which makes contact with the upright when the door is closed.

[0011] In detail, the cable has a first end engaging with the lateral edge of the door in a zone close to the upper crosspiece, and a second end engaging with the counterweight which is housed in a cavity made in the upright.

[0012] In this way, when the door is opened manually the cable pulls the counterweight upwards. When the door is released, the cable is pulled downwards by the force of gravity acting on the counterweight and as a result the door is moved towards the upright until the lateral edge of the door makes contact with the upright.

[0013] However, the sliding doors described above have some disadvantages.

[0014] These disadvantages are linked to the movement device able to close the sliding door again.

[0015] It should be noticed that the speed with which the door closes again depends on the weight of the counterweight. Therefore, the closing speed is adjusted by using a counterweight that is more or less heavy.

[0016] Consequently, if faster closing is required, a heavier and so bigger counterweight will be used.

[0017] Even in the case of very heavy doors (very large or made of a heavy material such as steel, glass, etc.) a very heavy and so bulky counterweight must be used in order to return the door to the closed position.

[0018] The use of a large counterweight is a disadvantage due to the size of the counterweight which must be inserted in the upright, the latter having predetermined standard dimensions.

[0019] The upright, and in general the entire frame connected to the wall, are made according to standard dimensions linked to the standard dimensions of the wall itself. It should be noticed that the frame cannot project from the wall for obvious practical and aesthetic reasons. As a result, the use of large counterweights is limited to the dimensions of the upright.

[0020] Moreover, another disadvantage is represented by the possible problems of wear on the door sliding parts. The sliding parts (slide guides, wheels, bearings, etc.) may wear due to the moving mechanical parts which slide over one another or due to impurities which prevent normal sliding.

[0021] These disadvantages are reflected in the movement of the door, which may slow down or even remain jammed between the open position and the closed position. To restore correct door movement, without substituting the door, the counterweight would need substituting with a heavier counterweight, with the consequent problems linked to dismantling the frame to fit a suitable counterweight.

[0022] Movement devices for sliding doors are also known which have a spiral spring mounted on the upper crosspiece in a zone close to the frame upright, the spring causing the cable return movement.

[0023] In particular, the spiral spring is contained in a rotary cylinder and has an outer end portion connected to the cylinder and an inner end portion connected to the frame crosspiece. The cable is partly wound on the outer surface of the cylinder to connect the door to the cylinder. In this situation, when the door is opened, the cable wound on the cylinder turns the cylinder, compressing the spiral spring. When the door is released, the compressed spring extends (given its elastic characteristics) turning the cylinder in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation during door opening. As a result, the cable is wound on the cylinder, pulling the door towards the upright.

[0024] Moreover, the spring has a preloading system which calibrates the initial force of the spring. This system consists of a pin connected to the inner end portion of the spiral spring, which can be switched between a condition in which it turns to compress the spring (preloading) and a condition in which it remains constrained to the frame crosspiece.

[0025] In this way, pin rotation allows the spiral spring to be pre-compressed to increase its extension force at the moment when the door is closed. Advantageously, when doors have problems moving due to wear on the sliding parts, the spiral spring can be pre-compressed to increase the closing force and so overcome the excessive friction between the door and the frame.

[0026] However, this movement device also has important disadvantages.

[0027] Firstly, it should be noticed that the length of the spiral spring (and so the diameter of the spring and of the rotary cylinder) is directly proportional to the travel and dimensions of the door. Therefore, if the doors used are over a predetermined length or are very heavy because they are made of a heavy material (reinforced doors, made of glass, steel, etc.), a spring which is able to close the door again must be used. This means that the spring has a large diameter. The size (diameter) of the spring and therefore of the cylinder which contains it may become a problem since it is housed within the thickness of a standard crosspiece.

[0028] It should be noticed how, as indicated above, the frame has standard dimensions corresponding to the thickness of the wall which, for obvious reasons is also standard because it is made in accordance with the building regulations in force. As a result, only helical springs with dimensions not greater than the cross-section of the upper crosspiece can be used, otherwise the cylinder would come out of the crosspiece.

[0029] Moreover, it should be noticed that the spiral spring, which consists of a plate, also has a predetermined vertical dimension, that is to say in the direction transversal to the longitudinal extension of the crosspiece. Consequently, for particularly heavy doors the plate must be of a size proportional to the dimensions of the door, and so must be very wide in order to maintain optimum elasticity and mechanical strength characteristics. Therefore, use of the spiral spring may also be limited by an excessive vertical dimension which would prevent its use with very heavy sliding doors.

[0030] Finally, a further disadvantage is the limited versatility of the spring preloading system.

[0031] The spring pre-compression remains limited because it is determined by the length of the plate, which as indicated above must not be too long due to obvious dimensional disadvantages. Therefore, there is a very narrow limit on the possibility of preloading (necessary to adjust closing speed, or to adapt the return force to doors with different weights and dimensions, or to overcome any friction caused by wear). If the spring is preloaded a number of times, above a rather narrow predetermined limit, it closes in a "pack" and cannot be compressed again. This disadvantage is clear even in the extreme case in which the spring is excessively preloaded, preventing the door from sliding freely to the open condition.

[0032] The aim of the present invention is to overcome the problems in the prior art by providing a movement device for sliding doors which is free of the disadvantages described.

[0033] In particular, the aim of the present invention is to provide a movement device for sliding doors with compact dimensions.

[0034] More specifically, one aim of the present invention is to provide a movement device for sliding doors with low costs, which can be applied in standards frames, which is versatile with any type of door and easily reached for calibration/preloading operations.

[0035] These aims and others, which are more apparent in the description which follows, are substantially achieved by a movement device for sliding doors and by a sliding door incorporating the device, as described in the claims.

[0036] Further features and advantages are more clearly illustrated in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of a movement device for sliding doors without limiting the scope of its application, and in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sliding door;
• Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the sliding door illustrated in Figure 1 with a door movement device made in accordance with the present invention attached to it;
• Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a first construction detail of the movement device illustrated in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a second construction detail of the movement device illustrated in Figure 2; and
• Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a third construction detail of the movement device illustrated in Figure 2.

[0037] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes as a whole a movement device for sliding doors.

[0038] In detail, the device 1 is advantageously used in a sliding door 2, better illustrated in Figure 1, supported by a frame 3 which is connected to a partition wall (not illustrated in the accompanying drawings) at the passage which the sliding door must block/clear.

[0039] In further detail, the frame 3 consists of a contact upright 4 extending vertically from the base (floor) of the wall to which it is connected. On the opposite side to the contact upright 4 there is a casing 5 designed to contain the door 2, the casing 5 being inserted in the partition wall.

[0040] It should be noticed that the accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example only a casing 5 designed to be inserted in the partition wall. The casing 5 is substantially box-shaped with an opening to allow the door 2 to pass into and out of it. However, it must be said that the present invention can apply to sliding doors of any type, irrespective of the structure of the frame, or the presence of a sliding door containment casing. In particular, the invention may also be applied to sliding doors where the door is outside the wall and runs over and next to the wall.

[0041] The frame 3 also has an upper crosspiece 6 which connects the upright 4 to the casing 5. The door 2, which is mounted inside the frame 3 in the known way, therefore not described in further detail, slides along the longitudinal extension of the crosspiece 6 between a closed position in which it is next to the contact upright 4 and an open position in which it is distanced from the upright 4 and inserted in the casing 5.

[0042] In particular, the door 2 in the open position has a first vertical edge 2a inserted in the containment casing and a second vertical edge 2b, opposite the first edge 2a, detached from the upright 4. When the door 2 is in the closed position, the second vertical edge 2b is in contact with the contact upright 4, preferably inserted in a housing made in the upright.

[0043] The device 1 has return means 7 positioned between the contact upright 4 and the door 2 for automatically moving the door 2 from the open position to the closed position.

[0044] In particular, the return means 7 have at least one linear elastic element 8 with axial extension substantially in the plane in which the door 2 lies and deformable in a linear fashion along said axial extension.

[0045] The return means 7 also have at least one connecting part 9 with a first end 9a connected to the frame 3 at the contact upright 4, and a second end 9b connected to the elastic element 8.

[0046] As is advantageously illustrated in the enlarged view in Figure 5, the elastic element 8 has a first end 8a engaging with the first lateral edge 2a of the door 2 and a second end 8b, opposite the first, engaging with the second end 9b of the connecting part 9.

[0047] More particularly, the elastic element 8 comprises a helical spring 10 extending along a vertical longitudinal axis. The helical spring 10 is preferably contained in a tubular sheath 10a, also engaging with the first vertical edge 2a of the door 2. In particular, to further simplify the device, the linear elastic element 8 may consist of the helical spring 10 alone.

[0048] More preferably, the helical spring 10 engages with a lower zone of the first vertical edge 2a of the door 2.

[0049] The connecting part 9 consists of a fixing element 11 advantageously positioned on the upper crosspiece 6 close to the contact upright 4, and of a connecting cable 12 which connects the fixing element 11 and the elastic element 8.

[0050] In particular, the cable 12 has end portions respectively connected to the second end 8b of the elastic element 8 and to the fixing element 11. More particularly, as is better illustrated in Figure 3, the fixing element 11 has a substantially cylindrical part 13 with a lateral surface 13a around which the cable 12 is partly wound.

[0051] The cylindrical part 13 is preferably fitted with respective movement means (of the known type and so not illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings) which switch the cylindrical part 13 between a moving condition in which it is free to turn about a respective longitudinal axis to wind/unwind the cable 12, and a constrained condition in which it does not turn about said axis.

[0052] In detail, the movement means consist of a coupling pin, connected to the crosspiece and positioned coaxially inside the cylindrical part 13. The coupling pin and the cylindrical part 13 engage with one another using interference means of the known type and not described in any further detail, for example a bayonet fitting. Following a movement of the cylindrical part 13 along the longitudinal axis, the interference elements switch the part 13 from the constrained condition in which it is integral with the pin to the moving condition.

[0053] In this way, the cylindrical part 13 can be released and turned "at will" to wind in the cable 12, and therefore tension the helical spring 10 to which the cable 12 is connected, or to unwind the cable 12 and release the spring 10. This makes it easy to adjust the preloading of the elastic element 8 within very wide limits.

[0054] As illustrated in detail in Figure 4, the connecting part 9 also has an idle roller 14, preferably positioned in a corner portion 15 of the door 2, on which the cable 12 runs. The corner portion 15 of the door 2 is defined between the first vertical edge 2a and a horizontal upper edge 2c opposite the crosspiece 6 and sliding on it.

[0055] The idle roller 14 can turn about an axis transversal to the planar extension of the door 2 so that the cable 12 runs over it during door 2 movement.

[0056] The device 1 also has damper means 16 inserted between the upper edge 2c of the door 2 and the upper crosspiece 6 to have a braking action on door 2 movement.

[0057] In detail, the damper means 16 have a guide 17 engaging with the crosspiece 6 and extending along the longitudinal extension of the crosspiece 6. The guide 17 has a plurality of consecutive teeth 17a opposite the upper edge 2c of the door 2. The damper means 16 also have at least one gear wheel 18 rotatably engaging with the upper edge 2c of the door 2 and able to turn about a respective axis transversal to the planar extension of the door 2. The wheel 18 meshes with the above-mentioned teeth 17a of the guide 17 so that it turns about its own axis during door 2 movement. The gear wheel 18 also has a friction portion, not illustrated and described, since it is of the known type normally used in the technical field. The friction portion is designed to have a braking action on the rotation of the gear wheel 18 only in one direction of rotation, corresponding to door 2 movement from the open position to the closed position, so as to close the door gently, without slamming it.

[0058] Operation of the device disclosed is described in detail below.

[0059] Starting from the door 2 closed position, it is manually moved (using grip parts such as handles, etc.) to the open position in which the second lateral edge 2b is distanced from the contact upright 4.

[0060] During this movement the idle roller 14 fitted on the door 2 pushes the cable 12, pulling the end portion connected to the spring 10 upwards. Following cable 12 traction, the helical spring 10 is extended towards the upper edge 2c of the door 2.

[0061] In this situation the door 2 is inserted in the casing 5, leaving the passage between the upright 4 and the casing 5 clear.

[0062] When the door is released, the spring 10 subjected to traction tends to return to its compressed state given its elastic characteristics. In this way, the cable 12 is pulled downwards by the spring 10, pressing on the sliding roller 14. In this way, the door 2 is moved by the force of the cable 12 on the roller 14 towards the contact upright 4 until the second lateral edge 2b makes contact with the upright 4.

[0063] In this condition, the spring 10 returns to its initial minimum extension state and the door 2 blocks the passage.

[0064] Advantageously, thanks to the possibility of moving the cylindrical part 13, the spring 10 extension can be adjusted since the spring can be pre-extended. This regulates the door 2 closing speed which is directly dependent on the spring extension and therefore deformation.

[0065] Moreover, the damper means allow gentle closing of the door which, given the elastic force of the spring, tends to close quickly.

[0066] The device disclosed has the following advantages.

[0067] A first advantage of the present invention is the compact dimensions of the linear elastic element 8. In fact, it should be noticed that the door return force is due to the capacity for axial deformation of the linear elastic element.

[0068] Therefore, since the axial extension of the linear elastic element (and, therefore, its direction of deformation) substantially lies in the plane in which the door 2 lies, it does not take up any additional space during its deformation. In other words, for example, the helical spring 10 may deform without increasing the transversal dimension (see the spiral spring described in the prior art) given its linear axial elastic capacity.

[0069] Moreover, the elastic element 8, in particular when it is in the form of a helical spring 10, does not affect the structure of the frame due to its position (along the rear edge of the door) and its course during extension.

[0070] Another advantage is the versatility of the linear elastic element 8, which can be adjusted in terms of the speed of door closing and the dimensions of the door, within wide limits, since it deforms axially only in the door plane and is positioned in such a way that for these deformations it can exploit a good part of the length of the edge of the door to which it is applied. All of this without in any way altering the transversal dimensions.

[0071] Thanks to the possibility for example of preloading the helical spring 10, the door closing speed can be increased, for example if it is jammed due to worn moving parts or impurities which have infiltrated the slide guides. In addition, the movement means allow preloading of the helical spring 10 or, in general, the linear elastic element 8, adapting doors with different weights and dimensions to the same elastic element.

[0072] Since, as described above, extension of the linear elastic element (in particular, for example, when it consists of the helical spring) does not increase the transversal dimension, the elastic element may be significantly extended within the limits of the vertical dimension of the door. Consequently, for example, the spring may be preloaded according to the weight and/or dimensions of the door: the more force the door requires in order to close, the more the spring is extended using the movement means.

[0073] Advantageously, the helical spring 10 is very versatile since it can be used with doors which have different weights and there is no need to substitute the spring with a spring that has different dimensions.

[0074] Also, the transversal dimensions being the same, the helical spring solution can even be used on doors which are much bigger and heavier, simply by substituting the spring with a spring having identical dimensions but made of a metal "wire" with a slightly larger cross-section.

Claims

1. A movement device for sliding doors which have a frame (3) supporting a door (2) that slides along the frame (3) between a closed position in which it is next to a frame (3) contact upright (4) and an open position in which it is distanced from the upright (4); the device comprising return means (7) positioned between the frame (3) and the door (2) for moving the door (2) between the open position and the closed position; the movement device being characterised in that the return means (7) comprise at least one linear elastic element (8) with axial extension substantially in the plane in which the door (2) lies and deformable in a linear fashion along said axial extension.

2. The device according to claim 1, or 2, characterised in that the linear elastic element (8) is connected to the sliding door (2).

3. The device according to claim 1, or 2, or 3, characterised in that the return means (7) also comprise at least one connecting part (9) having a first end (9a) connected to the frame (3), at the contact upright (4), and a second end (9b) connected to the elastic element (8).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterised in that the elastic element (8) has a first end (8a) engaging with a first vertical edge (2a) of the door (2) opposite a second vertical edge (2b) of the door (2) designed to move next to the upright (4) when the door (2) is in the closed position; and a second end (8b) opposite the first (8a) and engaging with the connecting part (9).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterised in that the elastic element (8) is substantially extended and extends along a vertical longitudinal axis, the first end (8a) of the elastic element (8) engaging with a lower zone of the first vertical edge (2a).

6. The device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the elastic element (8) comprises a helical spring (10).

7. The device according to any of the claims from 3 to 6, characterised in that the connecting part (9) comprises a fixing element (11) positioned on an upper crosspiece (6) of the frame (3) close to the contact upright (4) and a connecting cable (12) inserted between the fixing element (11) and the elastic element (8).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that the fixing element (11) comprises a substantially cylindrical part (13) about which the connecting cable (12) is partly wound.

9. The device according to claim 8, characterised in that the cylindrical part (13) has movement means for switching the cylindrical part (13) between a moving condition in which it is free to turn about a respective longitudinal axis to wind/unwind the cable (12), and a constrained condition in which it does not turn about said axis.

10. The device according to any of the claims from 7 to 9, characterised in that the connecting part (9) also comprises an idle roller (14) positioned in a corner portion (15) of the door (2) between the first vertical edge (2a) and a horizontal upper edge (2c) of the door (2); the cable (12) sliding on the idle roller (14) during door (2) movement.

11. The device according to claim 10, also comprising damper means (16) inserted between the upper edge (2c) of the door (2) and the upper crosspiece (6) of the frame (3) to have a braking action on door (2) movement between the open position and the closed position.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterised in that the damper means (16) comprise: a guide (17) connected along the longitudinal extension of the upper crosspiece (6) and having a plurality of teeth (17a) opposite the upper edge (2c) of the door (2); and at least one gear wheel (18) connected to the upper edge (2c) of the door (2) and turning about an axis transversal to the longitudinal extension of the upper edge (2c), said gear wheel (18) meshing with the plurality of teeth (17a) on the guide (17).

13. A sliding door comprising a frame (3) supporting the door (2) for moving the door (2) between a closed position in which it is next to a frame (3) contact upright (4) and an open position in which it is distanced from the upright (4); the sliding door also comprising a movement device (1) as described in one or more of the claims from 1 to 12.

Drawing